Gun Control Research Paper

Submitted By Mjmchef
Words: 1312
Pages: 6

Gun control is a mainstream topic that is being discussed and measured by both the legislature and the Senate who are in the fight for and against it. Since the massacre in December at the Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school the debate over firearm restrictions have been an at all time high particularly by those who oppose the idea of individuals owning AR-15 military style assault rifles. Primarily because this weapon has historically been the weapon of choice for deranged killers in some of the most recently high-profile mass shootings. I am going to review some of the debates that have transpired on this topic including the decisions that have been made recently through congress.

As society becomes more violent, one would think that gun laws would evolve to protect the innocent people. Common sense dictates that recent massacres happening across the United States the idea of a decrease in gun sales would be conclusive. In actuality sales for fire arms have surged as buyers grow in fear of stricter background checks to be enforced soon by congress. The only reason at the moment for the decrease in gun sales is the lack of product that the gun stores have for sale. Some gun store owners have reported as much as 60% turn away of business because of the deficiency in gun stock. The president challenged lawmakers, many of whom are tepid at best to the idea of major gun reform, to pass the deepest overhaul of firearms regulations since the Lyndon Johnson administration. President Obama vowed to spend considerable political capital on the explosive policy issue of gun violence that he's largely avoided much of his first term. (Jackson & Madhani, 2013). A poll released in January from Quinnipiac University showed that 58% of New Jersey voters say that state’s gun laws should be strengthened while 8% think that the laws should be less strict, and 29% say they should remain the same. A bill package of 20 gun control laws have been passed that would limit the amount a magazine can hold to a maximum of 10 from 15, ban the use of armor-piercing bullets, and .50 caliber bullets, stronger background checks for private gun sales, and the ability to seize firearms of patients with mental health issues if determined by a mental health professional. As of February-March, all of the legislation has been approved by the committee and the bills next step is to the assembly floor. On February 20, 2013 the Assembly had passed nearly two dozen bills on gun control. While a few of the bills passed easily, some just made it through, earning just enough votes needed to advance. In 2011, 269 New Jerseyans were killed in gun violence. The new package of 22 bills passed by the General Assembly aims at curing this problem. Many of the proposals are not to infringe on the second rights amendment of our constitution of law-abiding citizens, but rather to keep guns out of the hands of criminals or those prone to violence by severe mental health issues. The next part of this process is to move to the Senate where no scheduling date has been determined. Jon Bramnick, the Assembly Republican leader had said that the legislation was being rushed through by the Democrats and it was drafted poorly and does not begin to solve the problems with gun control across the nation. He said the Legislature should wait until Governor Christie’s violence prevention task force returns with its report next month (Lihorst, 2013). Democrats felt the gun bills are “common sense” measures that will improve the effectiveness of New Jersey’s gun control laws and was reinforced by Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver. Assemblywoman Oliver said that for those who say that the efforts for stronger gun control are based on the emotional response to the massacre that happened in Newton CT. is not disagreeable. It would be baffling if it were not (Oliver, 2013). On Sunday March 3, 2013 a meeting was held at the Ethical Culture