Change Your World Week Winter 2022 (Archived)

It is no surprise that gun violence is a major  topic in today's world. With shootings and homicide rates sky rocketing, I think it is time that we as citizens look into viable, real world, solutions to this issue. In 2022 alone there were 4,343 gun related deaths due to violence and crime to date(gunviolencearchive.org).  Over the last several years the numbers have climbed, and continue to reach new record level years, and alarming number. This website is geared towards promoting change, and implementing policy change issues as well as more enforcement from local municipalities. With mental health, gang related crime, and movies / video games promoting a lot of this type of violence we all need to take a step back and look at the big picture and how we can make a difference. However do not get this message twisted. We are not  promoting revocation of the 2nd Amendment, and we are not  trying to cancel violent movies or video games. Simply bringing viable real information to the forefront on this issue. 

In an era marked by deep divisions between Republicans and Democrats, few issues are as politically polarizing as gun policy. While a few specific policy proposals continue to garner bipartisan support, the partisan divisions on other proposals - and even on whether gun violence is a serious national problem - have grown wider over the last few years. 

Today, just over half of Americans (53%) say gun laws should be stricter than they currently are, a view held by 81% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents but just 20% of Republicans and Republican leaners. There is a debate on the change of the second amendment in 2008 giving citizen the right to bare arm for protection of their home without gun license. I will provide factual evidence that gun violence is an issue in many communities and America should seek change. According to (Cathey, 2021) In 2018 It was found that 393 million people owns guns in American. In the same year it was reported that there are more guns in America than cars and people. America owns more guns than any other country. The United States of America also own 40% of gun ownership of the entire world. Each year about 40,000 people die from firearm injuries in America. In the United States we have the most Gun owners, Mass shootings, Gun related Homicides and firearm suicides.

Below is a power map identifying all of the potential interested parties who may have influence over the issue. Participation from these parties is necessary for the prevention of gun violence. Not to mention, each group has something to gain and/or lose if the issue persists, ranging from overall safety within a community, spreading awareness to the issue, guaranteeing justice is served to the wrongdoers. 

Relational aspects of power highlighted by powermap.

What are people saying about the issue from both sides?

There is an abundance of things that come to mind when you speak about gun violence. Republicans and Democrats find rare common ground on some gun policy proposals in the U.S. Although, both parties think that people with mental illnesses should be prevented from buying guns along with background checks for private gun sales and barring gun purchases by people on federal no-fly or watch lists. However, Democrat and Republican views on gun violence differ fundamentally, particularly questions pertaining to its causes, and even whether it is a serious problem in the country.

There is a pressing need to address gun violence because it is a leading cause of premature death in the country.  We have not assembled the political will to address it, unlike other preventable causes of death. Some firearms restrictions have been upheld by the United States Supreme Court, including prohibitions on the carrying of concealed weapons and the possession of certain kinds of weapons, as well as laws preventing the sale of guns to certain categories of people. The Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibits individuals under the age of eighteen, convicted criminals, dishonorably discharged military personnel, and others from purchasing firearms. To address gun violence, there are policies that could be enforced to restrict firearm access to the youth and those who are at risk of harming themselves or others. There should be required mandatory training and licensing for gun owners. Also, ensuring there is adequate oversight over the marketing and sales of guns and ammunition.

Gun violence archive. Gun Violence Archive. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

Richter, F. (2018, December 13). Infographic: The steady rise of u.s. gun deaths. Statista Infographics. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/chart/16421/the-number-of-us-gun-deaths-due-to-firearms/

Reno, Janet. “Promising Strategies To Reduce Gun Violence.” Section II: Solving the Problem of Gun Violence, 1998, https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh176/files/pubs/gun_violence/sect02.html#:~:text=In%20short%2C%20gun%20violence%20operates,to%20successfully%20prevent%20gun%20violence.

Manager, Site. “Denver Da.” Denver DA, 21 Aug. 2020, https://www.denverda.org/there-is-a-disturbing-increase-in-gun-violence/.

“Political Parties.” Scholastic Classroom & News Magazines, https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/election/civics-in-action/political-parties.html.

pewresearch.org. “Amid a Series of Mass Shootings in the U.S., Gun Policy Remains Deeply Divisive.” Pew Research Center - U.S. Politics & Policy, Pew Research Center, 3 Feb. 2022, https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/04/20/amid-a-series-of-mass-shootings-in-the-u-s-gun-policy-remains-deeply-divisive/.

Gun violence must stop. Here’s what we can do to prevent more deaths. (n.d.). Prevention Institute. Retrieved April 3, 2022, from https://www.preventioninstitute.org/focus-areas/preventing-violence-and-reducing-injury/preventing-violence-advocacy

“U.S. Gun Policy: Global Comparisons.” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-gun-policy-global-comparisons.

Cathey, L. (2021, October 28). AbcNEWS. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/amendment-losing-relevance-gun-debate/story?id=79474562.