One of the most controversial issues in our society is gun control legislation. Violence

associated with guns is increasing every year and something must be done to stop it. Gun

legislation varies in every state. In some states gun policy is stricter than in other states.

Gun legislation should be abolished in favor of federal gun legislation. To analyze the

problem with gun violence today you must understand the gun laws that are in effect. The gun

legislation in the United States are mostly based on a state level. One federal law for example,

prohibits the manufacture of all plastic guns. The federal government tightly restricts fully automatic

guns. Manufactures stamp serial numbers on guns for law purposes. The government also has

regulation on importation on guns brought into the country. Also, most states restrict the

purchasing of long guns under the age of 18, and 21 for the purchase of handguns Most states

prohibit the purchase of guns if you are: a convicted felon, alcoholic, drug addict, mentally ill

person, alien, or a fugitive from justice. Some laws required prospective gun buyers, to get a

purchase permit, which comes with applicant passing all background checks. A few states even

require that all persons possessing guns must have a license to do so, even in their homes. Some

states don’t ban guns from addicts. This is a problem. Gun conciliation is not the same in each

state. If it was same, it would have been easier to decrease the criminal acts.

Guns are a form of power. Many individuals, ‘including criminals’ feel powerful when

carrying a gun. Half of the households in the United States possess a gun. Criminals use guns for

satisfaction. For example, to obtain sexual gratification in a rape or money in a robbery, or more

frequently, to frighten and dominate victims in some other assault. All of these things can be

gained without an attack, and indeed the possession of a gun can serve as a substitute for attack,

rather than its vehicle (Kleck,1991). A sample was done by police in 50 major cities to see

who is more common to use a gun (Kleck,1991). The data included that gun use in

homicides is more common when (1) the victim is male rather than female, (2) the victim

is male and the attacker is female, (3) the attacker is outside the "physical prime" ages 16-

39 compared to other ages, (4) the attacker is outside the "prime" age span and the victim

is in that age span, compared to the reverse situation, (5) there is a single attacker, and

multiple victims, compared to a group of attackers, and (6) there is a single attacker and

multiple victims, compared to the reverse situation (Kleck,1991). The death rate with gun

violence is somewhat uncertain. About one in seven gunshot wounds known to police

result in death. However, this doesn’t count all of the injuries not reported to police. This

means that the actually rate is lower than the one mentioned above. Gunshot wounds are

more likely to result in death than those inflicted by a knife. The knife is the weapon

considered to be the next most lethal.

One of the common question among the American public is , where do criminals obtain

guns? A recent survey asked many criminals this very question. Obtaining from friends was the

most prevalent answer. This was about 40%. Off the street was second with 14%, followed by gun

shops, which was 11%. Other sources included pawnshops 6%, fences 5%, and family members

and drug dealers 4% each (Wright,1986). It does seem very easy to get gun by this study, but it is

hard to stop them.

The handgun is the favorite among criminal activity. Criminals usually prefer a handgun

with a short barrel (Shields,1981). This is because it’s extremely lethal and is so easily concealed.

When it is stuck inside the belt, only the grip or handle is visible, and a jacket, coat, or sweater can

easily cover that small bulge. It also slips easily into a coat, jacket pocket or purse. It can also be


hid easily in a automobile. Handguns therefore are a common weapon of choice for criminals.

One example of gun violence was in New York City. A Palestinian man opened fire in the

Empire state building on Sunday February 23, 1997. Ali Abu Kamal, 69, a retired college instructor;

carried a semi automatic weapon to the 86th floor of the Empire State building and opened fire.

There were eight shot and one fatally during the drastic Saturday evening. Many others, including

young children were trampled during the chaos. It was reportedly the worst bloodshed since an

Army bomber lost control and smashed into the building in 1945. Kamal came into the United

States on Christmas Eve. He checked into a Florida hotel and spent his nights partying. He came

to the country to try and improve on his life savings, which was 300,000 dollars. Kamal then

reportedly bought a .380-caliber Beretta on Feb. 4 at the Oaks Trading Post, which was a one-

story weapons outlet in Melbourne Fla. Kamal somehow sidestepped a U.S law that potential

gun buyers be a U.S. resident for at least 90 days. Kamal purchased the weapon by using a

temporary state identification card, (George, 1997). Florida has been known for lenient

gun screening laws that require buyers to wait only three days to pick up their weapons

after sales personnel check that they are state residents and that they have no criminal

records. NewYork, for example, mandate that gun buyers turn over fingerprints and

establish why they need the weapon before the sale. When asked about the Empire State

building incident, Mayor Giuliani responded by saying "Weak gun laws in Florida and at

the Federal level are to blame for the Empire State Building tragedy." This is a major

reason why the policy on gun control must be drastically changed. This is why all gun laws

should be on a Federal level.

     According to Mckenna and Feingold, authors of “Taking Sides”, there was another incident


that took place in 1993, a man named Colin Ferguson who open fired at the Long Island train

station killing six people and injured many more. He had purchased the pistol, a Ruger P-89, nine

months earlier in a hunting-and-fishing store in California. California’s gun-control law is knows as

one of the most strongest law around the nation. But Ferguson still got away with it, maybe

because it was not as tougher as we all thought it was. Because of all this, we need one law that

can control every state with hoping to decrease crime rates.

A new policy on gun policy is needed. In this new policy the federal government would

mandate laws, concerning gun policy. There will be a gun control board that will represent the

United States. Each member will represent each state. They will be voted on in their individual

state. This system will provide equality and fairness. Gun legislation will be stricter and more under

control. By giving the federal government all the power we will eliminate careless sale of guns.

Along with changing gun legislation we must also enforce our gun policy laws better. The unity

will not tolerate the purchasing of guns and weapons illegally. The government should increase the

penalty of a gun violence offender. There also should be laws in every state threatening the

shutdown of any gun business that doesn’t make the sale exactly according to the gun laws.

These are some of the gun laws that should become in effect on a federal level.

Transportation with a gun on a certain person or in a car will be prohibited, unless given

permission by the federal government. The legal age of gun ownership will be 21 years of age. A

16 year old may shoot a gun only for hunting purposes, and he or she, must be accompanied by

someone 21 years old or older. Any business selling guns must be approved by the government

and will be inspected by the gun policy board every year. The date of the inspection will not be

revealed. The inspection will include a federal agent posing as a prospective gun buyer. All of


these laws and many others will be voted on by the federal board.

One major problem with this new policy on gun control would be, many people will have

question like “how will I protect my self from criminals? Many people argue that guns in

households scare away many criminals. Criminals take major risks when they attempt an armed

attack. They also can achieve major benefits. The benefits consist of the potential economic or

other gains, however conceived, from the contemplated crime; the costs include the possibility of

being caught and imprisoned, of being shot at in the course of the crime, either by the police or by

the victim. The likelihood of social disapproval could be a negative factor. It has been known that

one half of every household has at least one gun. If you restrict a victim’s options by limiting

household guns, crime could rise highly.

This new policy on gun control should help lead our nation in the right direction. The

massacre at the Empire State Building was an example of how our gun legislation must be

changed. The new federal gun legislation will provide equality among all states. Criminals

will not have the option of buying a gun in a state with weak gun legislation. This new

policy on gun legislation will cut down on violence dramatically.