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Solutions to Gun Violence in the United States
Introduction
The problem of gun violence is an unavoidable health tragedy that impacts various communities across the world. Over 100 Americans die every day through gun violence out of where 64 succumb to firearm suicide, 39 through firearm homicide, and 3 from other forms of violence. Additionally, about 200 patients present with nonfatal firearm injuries at the emergency department daily. There is overwhelming evidence to suggest that access and ownership of firearms are directly linked with rising cases of homicide, suicide, injuries, and unintentional firearm ownership (Silver, Andre, & Sarah, 67). While these deaths and injuries can be prevented, there is a need to employ evidence-based solutions to eliminate gun violence among various communities in the United States. Notably, some minority groups such as people of color and those with economic status are at higher risk of experiencing gun violence than their male counterparts. According to a report released in 2017 by the Urban Institute, gun violence in some neighborhoods is linked with fewer service and retail establishments and fewer jobs. The purpose of the text is to discuss the solutions to the problem of gun violence in the United States including cultivating a culture of gun safety and adopting a public health approach to addressing gun violence.
Cultivating a Culture of Gun Violence.
One of the solutions that can be used to reduce gun violence in the United States is establishing a culture of safety in the handling of guns. The US is the nation with the most guns in the world hence the need to keep its citizens safe (Alcorn, 125). This can be achieved by restricting access to firearms to young people and other populations that are likely to harm themselves. This would require ensuring firearms are kept out of reach of violent partners and individuals with a history of violent convictions. This can be achieved through conducting background checks, expanding the lethality of the assessment, supporting restraining orders relating to gun violence and domestic violence bills. Additionally, the gun industry should be held accountable to ensure sufficient oversight in the sale and marketing of ammunition and guns. Noteworthy, 5% of gun dealers trade in about 90% of the total guns that are used to commit crimes and they must be held to account with a code of conduct. This will ensure that violators of inspection protocols and state licenses are brought to book.
Adopting a Public Health Approach to Gun Violence
Taking a public health approach to gun violence can help in coming up with solutions that go beyond the risk factors of violence and boosting resilience in families, individuals, and communities. Public health solutions recognize that the issue of gun violence is a preventable and critical public health issue. In the United States, gun violence takes lead as the cause of premature deaths. The United States is ranked 32nd in the death rates across the world with 2019 registering 3.96 death in every 100,000 people (McQuiller, 1). Unlike other causes of death, we are yet to have the political will required to address it. Gun violence becomes noticed only when many people die at once but people fail to recognize that domestic violence, suicide, community violence among other forms of violence affect many families and communities. According to data, the risk of gun violence varies by race, gender, age, and geography. By employing a public health approach, we note that violence is preventable in all forms.
Conclusion
Gun violence is an issue that is well alive in the United States today. It affects people from various neighborhoods and backgrounds with people of color and poor people being most adversely affected. More than 100 people die daily in gun violence and while these deaths and injuries can be prevented, there is a need to employ evidence-based solutions to eliminate gun violence among various communities in the United States. Some of the viable solutions to the problem of gun violence in the United States include cultivating a culture of gun safety and adopting a public health approach to addressing gun violence.
Works Cited
Alcorn, Ted. “Trends in research publications about gun violence in the United States, 1960 to 2014.” JAMA internal medicine 177.1 (2017): 124-126.
McQuiller, Michael V. “Enough is enough: Congressional solutions to curb gun violence in America’s K-12 schools.” DePaul J. Soc. Just. 12 (2018): 1.
Silver, James, Andre Simons, and Sarah Craun. “A study of the pre-attack behaviors of active shooters in the United States between 2000 and 2013.” (2018).
