News that erupted on February 14 in Florida claiming the lives of 14 students, as well as three staffs, brought some controversies regarding gun control in the region. The debate consisting of the same arguments presents the high degree of spiritual numbness and that later results in confusion as well as frustrations. Statistical analysis indicates a profound cultural difference regarding the USA and other nations. That is inclusive of not only developed countries but also other developing states on matters related to gun control. Gun ownership is a matter that requires special attention in the United States. The backchecks need to be vigorous to seal all the existing loopholes in the region. According to the supporters of the gun laws, people have turned against one another. Hence, guns don’t contribute much to the killings, and instead, people have developed the urge to kill others. An example is Chicago with strict guns laws but still presents a high murder rate.
Even though the strict gun laws can exist, individuals should understand that such ownership plays an insignificant role in the rate of crime rate in various parts of the world, including Florida. Folks outside the United States can’t comprehend what is going on in the region. Instead, they simply place allegations on the fact that the US is turning a blind eye on matters related to gun control. Supporters and non-supporters get puzzled one thing. The main question that arises relates to the justification why the U.S presents a high rate of mass shooting compared to other parts of the world such as Japan, Canada as well as Europe. The response to such claims is on the fact that gun control remains a cultural issue, just like other debates on abortion as well as gay rights (Braman & Kahan, 2006). Even though Obama leadership tried to shade more light on various cultural issues such as gay rights, it failed in present solutions to matters related to Gun control in the United States, and Florida to be precise. Obama, therefore, advocated for a “cease-fire on matters related to cultural wars.
The question that most people still want to come to terms with is whether gun control is inevitably a cultural issue. That should evaluate all the aspects that make gun control a cultural issue. In America, gun ownership indicates a given social class. That mostly applies to individuals in the rural set-up that denotes such ownership to self-reliance as well as personal liberty. The claim gives rise to a number question whether a majority of the gun owners support the private sales of the weapon. Even though such purchases exist in the states, there is the need for a mandatory safety training. That will thwart instances that can result due to the misuse of the weapon. The justification is still confusing because most individuals still support the various forms of gun control in the states.
Viewing gun control as a cultural issue is just an approach for framing. It is the gun lobby that benefits from such framing. Seeing gun control as an approach to attack the value system gives room for the NRA to mobilize stakeholders using the weapon as a means of opposing. The NRA believes that the implementation of such laws is slipper and needs the implementation of the most effective strategies to manifest in any given environment. Stakeholders in NRA continues to provide suggestions that could help in combating the concern. Controlling access to the firearm should embrace three key steps (Tonry, 2004). The first steps should be the enactment of a waiting period, and such should cut across the region. In some instances, the waiting period might not see the light of the day. At such an instance, there is need to enact a nationwide registration. Ultimately, there is need to confiscate all the registered weapons in case all the above strategies fail to respond positively to matters related to gun control.
On the contrary, the debate on gun control might also focus on the reduction of death as well as the injury that might result. On such grounds, NRA remains shaky since even the members support such claims. Having a specific concern over the issue should be the main focus of NRA, and that will make the allegations successful. Politicians are also worried about the aspect of gun control since it will bring a limitation to them on matters related to their protection. Ideally, there is need to embrace the safety of the nation as a whole before banking on the individual safety.
During Clinton’s administration, there were some frustrations on matters related to the gun lobby. Framing the issues as a cultural concern made the concern a public safety concern, and it was the responsibility of every stakeholder to ensure its success in various states such as Florida. Fighting violence crime is an instance that calls for stronger gun laws. Even though people struggle with the cultural issues in different parts of the state, it is not imperative to involve the gun control policy in most of the discussion. Currently, limited doubts exist on matters related to framing of gun control. Such debates currently paralyze progress on matters related to lifesaving reforms in different parts of America. Even though gun laws are such useful, it is not prudent to have strict laws since they will simply limit progress and make it hard for individuals to co-exist in different set-ups (Tonry, 2004). In most instances, the president, as well as the Congress, finds it hard to pass the credit cards unless the gun lobby gets the best amendments in most instances. The most important impact of gun control relates to their sales in which the gun owners feel that such an instance is likely to limit progress in the industry.
Ideally, it is imperative that all that advocate for gun control to have an understanding of the cultural framing involved. The focus should not be on the value of owning a guy in various parts of the United States (LaFollette, 2000). There is need to put much emphasis on the safety of everyone else in the region. The management at any given instance should not allow the gun lobby play a crucial role in the debate. Such a space will embrace death and injury, and that has a negative impact on the lives of individuals within the United States.
Some ethical considerations are also useful when addressing the aspect of gun control. At any given instance, there is need to understand that people will always present varied opinions. In such an instance, it is imperative to respect every opinion and learn to work with an option that will improve the welfare of most members of the society. Ethics places much emphasis on greater good since it is the best way to ensure proper co-existence in the society.
To start with, there is need to understand the differences between libertarianism and fundamental rights. These groups have varied opinions on matters related to the utilization of firearms in different parts of the states (Kellermann et al., 1993). Even though it is ethical to protect individual rights as well as those of the loved ones, it reaches a point when the gun itself causes more trouble in families as well as in the society as a whole. The crime rate is on the rise in various parts of the states and the justification banks on the fact that criminals are more likely to execute their plans once they are aware that the victim is armed. Moreover, such criminals will strive to make their action detrimental to ensure everything is out of control. That is the surest way to get away with the process. In such an instance, third parties are likely to suffer as collateral damage in case of such a process. It is therefore imperative to thwart any environment that involves such a level of conflict to improve the lives of individuals in the society. Certain gun rights proponents are for the idea that individual protection is also imperative. The police at times can fail to offer the right protection. Military invasion is also an occurrence that can see the light of the day in a certain instance. As a result, owning guns can act as the citizens’ last resort. They should at least be able to defend themselves in such instances. The only firearms that should be banned are the automatic ones that can commit crimes even without the consent of the holder.
Guns dominate the American culture, and the debate on whether it should be banned is unlikely to succeed. Even though owning firearms is part of the culture, the question should be the ethical consideration of any given culture to cost the lives of many innocent lives in the region (Kellermann et al., 1993). The reckless use of firearms stands as the main cause of deaths and injury, and the responsible authorities should implement the most effective strategies to improve the lives of citizens. The focus is to determine a middle ground that helps in reaching the lowest rate of violence as a result of gun ownership. Gun control has a deep root in the American history, and the debate is likely to take a longer period. However, emphasizing the lives of other citizens is key.
In conclusion, it stands out that gun control is part of the American culture. Most people in the region feel that their safety is crucial. However, owning such guns further places their lives into risks since criminals use much force on them once there is a suspicion of such ownership. Moreover, the number of deaths related to such ownership is on the increase of late. Individuals use emotions when operating such guns. That is the main justification for the death of 14 students in Florida on 14th February. Ethics also blends on matters related to such ownership. It is not ethically right for individuals to have protection. Hence, such ownership is helpful to individuals. The use of firearms to hurt others should be condemned by all means.
References
Braman, D., & Kahan, D. M. (2006). Overcoming the fear of guns, the fear of gun control, and the fear of cultural politics: Constructing a better gun debate. Emory LJ, 55, 569.
Kellermann, A. L., Rivara, F. P., Rushforth, N. B., Banton, J. G., Reay, D. T., Francisco, J. T., … & Somes, G. (1993). Gun ownership as a risk factor for homicide in the home. New England Journal of Medicine, 329(15), 1084-1091.
LaFollette, H. (2000). Gun control. Ethics, 110(2), 263-281.
Tonry, M. (2004). Thinking about crime: Sense and sensibility in American penal culture. Oxford University Press.
