Gun Violence as a National Epidemic in the United States

An ongoing and highly debated social problem that continues to grow in our society today is the gun control epidemic. Gun violence in the United States is a national epidemic. Many people take advantage of guns using and manipulating the tool with hardly any thought. Countless lives have been lost due to fact that people have been able to obtain firearms. Legally or illegally and have taken the notion to be judge, jury and executioner in holding ones live in their hands. This is a common issue that will continue if action is not taken as a nation to try and stop it. Gun violence can lead many citizens to believe. That no place is deemed safe anymore and recent tragedies that have taken place in United States holds up that statement. In our society today, the shootings. That continue to take place seem to become more gruesome and far more heinous, becoming more painful and unbearable to listen, watch, and hear these tragic stories appear on the news.

Too often it seems that we, as a nation, give little consideration to existing problems until they end in tragedy this should not be the way of life. In 2012 alone there were five major shootings which took place causing the nation to stop and reflect on the horror that has now become a precedent of what occurs in the United States today. In the wake of a series of unfortunate gun-related tragedies, the nation claims it has given its undivided attention to intricacies such as mental illness, violence and gun-control. Some examples of these cases is the horrific incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that claimed the lives of twenty innocent children and the six courageous adults who tried to protect them. Another is the horrendous tragedy that took place on July 20" 2012 when a masked gunman entered a movie theatre complex and opened fire on moviegoers which killed 12 and left 58 others wounded while they were watching the premiere of the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado. Incidents such as these make one think back to the violent tragedies that happen in years past.

For instance the Virginia Tech shooting which occurred on April 16" 2007 in Blacksburg, Virginia, which still stands today as the deadliest shooting rampage to occur in U.S. history in which the gunman Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people and himself in the process. All these shooting incidents that were mentioned all have one thing in common and that is that the gunmen were labeled as mentally ill, why is that? Why does it take such tragedies and innocent lives being lost to see that these culprits may have had a problem to begin with. Though the gun law could not have cured Cho's mental illness that brought upon his violence, but it could have denied him the weapon that enabled him to become a mass murderer (Henigan 2009). The Brady Bill was passed in 1994 and was a waiting period where a background check is done on the costumer. A part of the restriction states "the person must not have any reported mental illnesses" it seems to be a coincidence that mental illnesses of the murderers are found in the aftermath of these continuous massacres.

Order custom essay Gun Violence as a National Epidemic in the United States with free plagiarism report

450+ experts on 30 subjects Starting from 3 hours delivery

Get Essay Help

Although we don't realize until major shootings occur that gun violence is a problem. Gun violence is something which is very prevalent and occurs on almost a daily basis within inner city neighborhoods. This something that is really terrible and innocent victims especially children are casualties because they may have been caught in a cross fire of bullets between rival gangs or just opposing enemies. Firearms are readily available to kids, teens, and adults growing up within inner cities. There are so many criminal activities that occur in urban cities such as drug using or selling, formations of gangs, gang violence, robbery/theft, etc. Many civilians who live within these neighborhoods become products of their environment because they have no other choice (DeConde 2001).

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Run a free check or have your essay done for you

Check my essay Hire Writer