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Gun Control: American Gun Laws Need Reform

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Gun Control: American Gun Laws Need Reform
Roderick D. Harris
Capella University
Gun Control: American Gun Laws Need Reform
At the national level, the issue of gun control has been in the spotlight for the last 50 years. The conversation seems to pick up or lose steam depending upon current events. In more recent years, the barrage of mass murders carried out with the use of assault-style weapons have fueled the fire and reopened the public debate. In 2012, President Obama and his administration made a strong push toward reform of current laws on gun control but were met with hard opposition and their efforts failed. Many states have developed their own gun controls in the absence of federal statues, but these new reforms do not go far enough in most cases and the variances between state laws add to the confusion around developing comprehensive reform at the federal level. Strict gun control should at the least consist of full background checks, a ban on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines for ammunition. Congressional leaders should take the first step toward reform with a bi-partisan approach to a sweeping legislation. Strict gun control with a ban on assault-style weapons will reduce violence and shootings of mass murder in the United States (U.S.). The fewer the assault weapons and large-capacity magazines in our society will provide a greater opportunity for survival and reduced by-stander casualties during random acts of violence and mass shootings.
Those that oppose gun control are in the minority, yet supported by strong lobbyists that have been successful in curbing new or reformed federal laws. This year alone there has been more than 100 mass shootings were assault-style weapons took the lives of more than 500 civilians. Polsby (2002) reported in 2002, that there are as many guns in the United States as humans. CQ Researcher

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