Addressing the Problem of Gun Violence in American Society
Guns kill more than 38,000 people and cause nearly 85,000 injuries each year, with gun violence becoming a leading cause of premature death in USA. This November 2015 book Gun Violence in American Society: Crime, Justice and Public Policy examines how gun violence in America continues to reach all socioeconomic levels and also indicates society's lack of ability to control the violence.
In the latest mass shooting in USA, eight Philadelphia high school students waiting to board a city bus after classes yesterday were wounded by gunshots from suspects who jumped from a dark blue 2019 Hyundai Sonata and opened fire on the group at the bus stop.
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This is the fourth shooting on the Philadelphia transit system in four days, with one person dying in each of the previous three shootings.
Those wounded at the bus stop included a 16-year-old who was hit nine times and was in critical condition. Police said later that a second victim was also in critical condition. The others are said to be in stable condition.
Root Causes of Gun Violence
How does one prevent this type of increasing gun violence in one of the world's most prosperous countries like the USA, which is the world's largest economy?
Typically, the discussion of gun violence and easy accessibility of firearms often boils down to stricter gun control measures such as ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; enhanced community policing and stricter law enforcement; investigating and prosecuting gun crimes more effectively, etc.
In this superficial approach to curb gun violence, the root causes that the young people face in society are rarely addressed. These are mental health problems, drug abuse, lack of employment opportunities, and in many cases even abject poverty. Of course, all these issues are inextricably interconnected, one feeding into the other.
Addressing the Root Causes
It is a fact that the gun lobby spends a significant amount of money on lobbying efforts and campaign contributions to politicians who support gun rights. This money should be separately accounted for and effectively utilized to offset the economic damage that the gun industry causes in terms of healthcare expenses, lost productivity, and property destruction. Similarly, the profits that the gun lobby of manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers make should be heavily taxed and utilized to address and improve the root issues mentioned above.
Motivation For Suggestions
Strictly speaking, as a foreigner, I have no locus standi on this issue plaguing the USA. So, why am I concerned with these distressing and tragic happenings taking place half way around the world from India?
Because, this is a humanitarian problem that affects the whole of mankind. Because, there are more guns than people in the United States. Because, despite witnessing these tragedies again and again and again, there are only emotional speeches, knee-jerk policy reactions, and mere rhetoric by the past Presidents.
Because, there is deep political polarization on firearms in the United States, as evident in most of the polls conducted by different organisations. In one such poll, fear for gun violence was most prevalent among 78% Democrats, 36% of Republicans, and 61% of unaffiliated independent voters.
And finally, apart from the fact that I have several friends and relatives in the USA, my grandson lives in one of the University campuses pursuing his third-year undergraduate course, and naturally I am worried!
My motivation for these suggestions is to inspire debates and action among my friends and relatives over there, urging them to advocate for positive societal change that benefits everyone and create a better future for all.
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