An American Disparity for Gun Reform

Abstract

Inspire the next generation of leaders to combat the tragic loss of lives due to gun violence and the threat of liability due to gun related crimes within our American communities. The research purpose is to inform the reader of new possibilities to combat gun related threats and violence through affirmative action and policy procedure reform. Education of the public on preventative actions and safety when encountering a firearm. Developing action plans to mitigate core sociopolitical problems that arise when in face with immediate danger. Confirming your personal stance on gun violence and the use of force between citizens in a lower socioeconomic environment. The gun reform policy action speaks to the representative of our American communities to voice true instances of gun related crimes.

Keywords: gun reform, disparity, classification, crime rates, felony, misdemeanor, justification

An American Disparity for Gun Reform

Definition of the Policy Problem

The American Disparity for Gun Reform is the political stance that proves the necessary amendments to current United States gun reform policies. Gun reform policies come from the separation of state regulations and education for gun license holders. Indicators of Policy Problem include the ability for individuals to gain a gun license which requires 40 hours (about one week) of private security training and 28 hours of classroom and range training. According to Chapter 493, Florida Statutes (F.S.) the 28-hour course curriculum requires legal aspects of use of firearms only 12 hours, operational firearms safety and firearms mechanical training 8 to 11 hours and firearms qualification 8 hours which can be reduced if a class “K” instructor can allow a student to prove capabilities as few as five hours.

Although Florida Statutes show the specific amount of time instructors must train their students in a class “D” and class “G” license practice there must be further evaluations on the discernment of individuals who gain their classification. For instance, if an individual has a minor driving citation like a ticket, they would not be directly penalized during a criminal background check which is required for all applicants. The criminal background check required by Florida Department of Law Enforcement shows if an individual applicant has committed a misdemeanor or felony crime within their entire lifetime.

The major problem of the United States regulation on guns is that the individual states are allowed to modify the policy to fit their citizens' needs for gun holder applicants. In our modern society gun regulations and gun holders are necessary to ensure that our local communities stay safe from criminals and terrorists. People who might want to commit certain types of crimes using firearms must be held accountable for their actions. Gun license holders that abuse their authority in the public must be subject to questioning for justification when directing the local community.

The importance of this policy problem in Gun Reform is to take a detailed inspection on the methods of gun applicants and training, reported crimes which involve guns, and local necessity for gun license holders across the United States. The action report on America’s disparity for Gun Reform is to achieve an understanding of the state-by-state requirements for gun license applicants through education and training. The ability for criminals and terrorists to gain firearms to commit crimes in the United States. Decide the state-by-state necessity for gun license holders to protect our local communities and defend homeland security.

The study intends to collect data from the 50 United States that require certain education and training to become a gun license holder. Through state agencies and departments, the open-source information available to the public will determine the different changes in state statutes that mandate their state gun license applicants. The study will determine the hours of education of pre-firearm training or private security license, legal aspects of firearms, firearm safety and mechanics education, firearm range training, and firearm renewal education. Deciding the states with the highest rates of gun training regulations and lowest rates of gun training regulations we can see a correlation between the highest and lowest states.

Firearm Rated Crime Rates

Crime rates that involve gun holders or unregistered gun holders can show the accessibility for guns in our local community. Survey data and earlier literature review can determine the recent rate of crimes committed by gun holders whether a misdemeanor or a felony. Literature review, surveys and open-source law enforcement data can decide the amount of law enforcement officers or gun license holders within each of the 50 United States. According to Webster and Vernick, there are several types of gun deaths among 5–14-year-olds which includes homicides, suicides, and unintentional firearm deaths overall in the US compared to 25 other high-income populous countries in early 2003. (Webster & Vernick, 2013) The significance of this study is to give a holistic point of view on firearms and weaponry within the state and national levels. The ability to prevent deaths, bodily injury and threats while using and in the presence of a firearm is the core value of this research study.

Racial disparities and income disparities for United State citizens have been an essential topic when discussing the correlation between firearm holders and social-economic equity. For several decades, the rates of suicides have been higher than homicide rates due to the socioeconomic environment of the gun holder. Often, we see individuals from lower socioeconomic households who are racial diverse and have limited education that attempt and commit suicide using a firearm.

Gun Violence and Mental Illness

Mental Illness and insanity have been argued for individuals that have used a firearm for violent crimes, homicide, and attempted murder. Urban youth from 10-24 years old has decreased by 50% from 1994 to 2010. (Gold & Simon, 2016) Rural youth suicide rates are higher than urban suicide rates because it is perceived to be easier to access a firearm and kill yourself without immediate lifesaving assistance. Unfortunately, there are still urban youth gun violence related issues that stem from school shootings, mass shootings in public areas, lack of instant criminal background checks, and unable to access mental health care. Although many gun related issues come from the urban youth gangs which represent city blocks or certain neighborhoods there is research that urban youth development programs are reducing gun related crime rates. Juvenile detention centers also have developed internal programs that mitigate the psychological trauma of gun violence which reduces the juvenile recidivism rates. This research will develop a policy plan that can combat the pressing issues of recidivism rates amongst juveniles and mentally unstable individuals.

Gun Culture

The American gun culture has been consistently following new gun legislation with pro-gun lobbyist and social movement groups advocating the limitations on guns. During the 1970s, America was driven by the second amendment enthusiast that believed in the essential rights to hold a firearm through their individual rights of the constitution. The National Rifle Association (NRA) developed a platform for gun advocates to keep legal guns to law enforcement, military personnel, intelligence services, private security, and trustworthy American citizens. The NRA established a lobbying organization called the Institute for Legislative Action, Political Victory Fund and Firearms Legal Defense Fund. The NRA has provided the public release information on the state gun laws and the types of different legislation that is applicable to their state government. This research will discuss the purpose of different state gun laws and the unified gun laws in reciprocal permit to carry to different states, licensing of owners, registration of firearms, confidentiality, carry in restaurants, and right to keep & bear arms state constitutional provisions. (NRA, 2021)

Interview Data Collection

I have had the privilege of working alongside law enforcement officers from around the state including County Sheriffs, local police departments, FSU campus police, Florida Capital police and State Marshalls. I would like to interview some law enforcement officers to get their perspectives on this gun reform issue. I can compile the information to an on-the-job report of their life experiences with gun policing. These personal interviews will be from highly experienced law enforcement officers that have a clear perspective of gun statutes and gun policies in the State of Florida. Evaluations of these interviews will help social scientist understand essential law enforcement issues that arise in the state of Florida compared to literature reviews of other states.

References

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. (2021). Class “G” Statewide Firearm License requirements. https://www.fdacs.gov/Business-Services/Private-Investigation-Licenses/Class-G-Statewide-Firearm-License-Requirements

Gold, & Simon, R. I. (2016). Gun violence and mental illness (First edition.). American Psychiatric Association Publishing.

National Rifle Association (NRA). (2021). Institute for Legislative Action (ILA). https://www.nraila.org/about/

Squires. (2000). Gun culture or gun control: firearms, violence, and society. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203187753

Webster, & Vernick, J. S. (2013). Reducing gun violence in America: informing policy with evidence and analysis. Johns Hopkins University Press.