Gun control is one of the
most integral and a discordant issue in the US owing to the frequent mass
shootings and gun violence prevalent in the country and thus, the significance
it holds in this term’s election campaign is not tough to comprehend.
Both the candidates have
openly articulated their stance on gun control and reforms pertaining to it
during the election rallies and media interactions, which is often observed to
be quite contrary to their as well as respective party’s actions.
Gun control being the key
element for the US population does not just concern and is limited to a slot in
the election manifesto but is deep rooted in the ideologies of the citizens, responsible
for the creation of narratives that aggravates the antagonism between to both
sides of the gun control fence.
In the present scenario, gun
control has been a bone of contention between the two presidential candidates
and the way it is being used in their campaigns speak volumes about the political
and social gravity of the issue. Thus, it’s imperative to understand the issue
as it is and the impact it has on the presidential elections.
Mass Shooting and Gun
control- What’s the issue?
Mass shooting can be defined
as gun prompted mishaps, mostly violent in nature resulting in the
indiscriminate killing of at least four or more people.
American history has been and
still is an eye witness to the mass shooting culture bringing the much needed
spot light on the problem of Gun ownership in United States with Texas and Ohio
killings of 2019 being the most recent and spot on exemplar of two mass
shootings in less than 24 hours.
According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 39,773 firearm-related deaths
were reported in 2017 alone. The numbers have just soared in the latest years.
These appalling figures have
encouraged outrage from the citizens as well as federal and state level
governments to formulate legislation on gun control to reduce fire arm
violence.
This argument created two
sets of ideologies, one supporting the gun control narrative, who seek tighter
and stringent restrictions on the procurement and circulation of firearms
While the other of the
argument is citizen groups and firearms manufacturers argue that gun control
laws can infringe their constitutional right to carry firearms and thus,
prevents formulation of any anti gun law.
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The legal basis to possess firearms is embedded in the Second amendment to
US constitution, which gives citizens a right to keep and bear arms for self
defense and security.
It, however, comes with certain limitations and conditions that needs to be fulfilled
before the procurement and usage of such arms obtained.
- The Gun Control
Act of 1968 (GCA), mandates citizens and legal residents to be at least 18
years of age for the purchase of shotguns or rifles and ammunition. All other
firearms such as handguns, for example, can only be sold to 21 years or older
- Those
looking to deal or sell firearms are required to obtain a Federal Firearms
License (FFL) by law, if he/she has reached the age of 21. They must have
property or premises to conduct business.
- The amendment to
the 1968 Gun Control Act, requires FFL holders to conduct a background check
which looks for prior convictions and other red flags.
Gunshow Loophole
According to the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), anyone whose “principal
motive” by selling guns is not to make profit can conduct such sales from
their home, online or at a gun show as long as the sale is not part of regular
business course.
So this can be put up like this
way, ‘Not every buyer to procure a fire arm is mandated to a background check
if he somehow manages to find a dealer operating from home as a part of his
side dealings’
This phenomenon is commonly
known as Gunshow Loophole, the legal ambiguity that facilitates and justifies purchase
of arms without a proper background check.
All the more reasons to be
worried about and contributing towards a mass gun violence culture.
Elections 2020 and Gun
Control
The rapid rise in gun related crimes after
2014 has been a debate surrounding Republicans and Democrats for a long time
now, in fact the entire US for that matter.
Unlike other times, this
election is said to be something called a ‘close game’ and thus every issue
matters.
Owing to the current school
shooting and mass gun violence, general sentiments against it are at a saturation
point and can be a key point for the voter to decide on the fate of the next
president.
Another factor to be
attributable to sensitivity this issue garnered in the previous issue is ‘March
Our Lives’, a movement elevated from
students who survived mass shooting in the Parkland High School and shaped up a
nationwide movement against it targeting from social media to inter personal demonstrations.
Where does your next
president stand on the issue?
Democrat Joe Biden has been quite vocal about his stance on the Gun
Control issue and policies following the footsteps of his party and made it his
campaign’s key takeaway.
Biden does in fact known for
his ‘Pro-Gun Control’ outlook and was the top Democrat responsible for
getting Federal Background Check and 10 year assault weapon ban imposed.
Even in his present campaign
for the 2020 run, he has introduced a Sweeping Gun Control plan.
This plan includes:
·
Universal
background checks for the procurement of fire arms
·
Ban on assault weapon
·
Expediting the enforcement
of existing fire arms laws
·
Promoting development
of smart guns
·
Incentivize
adoption of Red Flag laws by the state
President Donald Trump, the Republican was always seen on the opposite side
of the Gun Control argument but has recently begun giving mix indications on
the very issue.
But considering the history
of the Republican party and Trump, it won’t be much difficult to comprehend
that he is no way in favour of Gun control policies and stricter laws on that.
The Trump administration’s
infamous move of unclasping regulations on the export of firearms very well suggests
his way out on one of the most crucial worries of the US.
Although, after the recent
mass shooting massacres like the one took place in El Paso last year, an
evident change in the tone was marked out when he talked about being palatable
to more stringent background check, can give him a benefit of doubt for now.
However, expecting a clear
view promoting the gun control debate like Biden is not of much use and will
put him to disadvantage on the part of those voters who will make gun control
an indispensable factor while heading towards the ballot box on November 3.
