Essay
The Need for Criminal Background Checks in Firearms Transfer
Passing a bill to require criminal background for all firearm transfers could reduce gun violence and increase public safety. Research shows that background checks can prevent those with criminal records from easily getting a gun. A study by the University of California, Davis, found that states with universal background checks experience fewer gun-related homicides than compared to states with minimal gun control measures (Siegel et al., 2018). Requiring background checks for private gun transfers will close a lot of gaps. It will allow authorities to screen all gun buyers and limit access to the ones who may be a risk to society. Implementing this type of bill will reduce gun violence through preventive measures.
In addition, expanding background checks for firearm transfers has a lot of support, with a majority of Americans advocating for this. According to a Pew Research Center survey, nearly 90% of Americans, including a significant portion of gun owners, support universal background checks for all gun sales (Pew Research Center,2017). The bipartisan consensus shows a national understanding that responsible gun ownership does not have to allow firearms to be accessible to people with a history of violent crime. By mandating background checks for private sales, this bill respects the Second Amendment while also showing that owning a gun is still a privilege only for those who have demonstrated responsible conduct.
This bill can also help with reducing illegal gun trafficking, limiting the black market from gun transactions. Studies from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research reveal that states with stricter background checks experience lower rates of gun trafficking, as criminals face increased difficulty in obtaining firearms through legal or quasi-legal means (Webster et al., 2013). When all gun transfers require a background check, it will make it harder for illegal firearms to be distributed. This bill will reinforce the right approach to keeping guns out of the wrong hands and help with overall community safety.
However, some people argue that mandatory background checks for all firearm transfers infringe on individual freedom and could allow for an unnecessary burden on lawful gun owners. The people who are against this bill could say background checks can create delays and barriers. The bill will make the process harder and longer for law-abiding citizens who wish to acquire firearms for self-defense, hunting, or recreational shooting. Gun rights advocates, such as the National Rifle Association, argue that additional background checks infringe on Second Amendment rights and question the efficacy of these checks in preventing crime (NRA-ILA, 2021). They argue that criminals will obtain firearms illegally anyway. Therefore, having these regulations in place only makes the process harder and longer for law-abiding citizens but does not stop criminals from getting guns. The hardest part of this bill is being able to balance public safety while also allowing individual freedoms, which is a real concern in this never-ending debate over gun control.
References
School mass shooting victims do not celebrate Valentine's Day. https://thedemlabs.org/2024/
02/11/school-mass-shooting-victims-do-not-celebrate-valentines-day/
School mass shooting victims do not celebrate Valentine's Day. https://thedemlabs.org/2024/02/11/school-mass-shooting-victims-do-not-celebrate-valentines-day/
Kroger-owned chain won't sell guns to anyone under 21. https://www.wmtw.com/article/kroger-owned-chain-wont-sell-guns-to-anyone-under-21/19039707
Stępka L. The Availability of Firearms and Levels of Homicide and Suicide Perpetrated with Their Use. Comparative Law Review. 2021;27:367-383. doi:10.12775/clr.2021.016
Sato Y, Haselswerdt J. Protest and state policy agendas: Marches and gun policy after Parkland. Policy Studies Journal. 2022;50(4):877-895. doi:10.1111/psj.12463