Guns Are not The Issue

The Myth of "Guns in a Home"

The “guns in a home” myth has been magnified by the media over the years. Dr. Arthur Kellermann of Emory University presents a study claiming that homes with guns are much more likely to experience a homicide. However, this conclusion is quite misleading. His study only included homes where homicides had taken place, ignoring the millions of households where firearms have not caused any harm. By focusing solely on homes where homicides have occurred, the results are skewed, rendering the study invalid (Ten myths about gun control, March 1996).

Guns Are Not the Issue

Another prevalent myth is that gun control laws are stricter in foreign countries, like Japan, compared to the United States. In reality, Japan’s low crime rate is largely due to the efficiency of its criminal justice system. They have fewer privacy rights and fewer rights for criminal suspects than exist in the United States. The Japanese authorities conduct home visits and routinely search citizens. Even in cases where suspects claim torture and physical traces support their claims, courts often accept their confessions. Additionally, Japanese police tend to underreport crime to appear more efficient, masking the problem of organized crime.

In the U.S., gun homicides in 2010 were 49% lower than in 1993, despite population growth. The victimization rate for other violent crimes involving firearms, such as assaults, robberies, and sex crimes, was 75% lower in 2011 than in 1993. Overall, violent non-fatal crime victimization dropped by 72% over two decades. Despite recent attention to gun violence, most Americans are unaware that gun crime is significantly lower than it was twenty years ago. A Pew Research Center survey found that 56% of Americans believe the number of crimes involving a gun is higher than it was 20 years ago, 12% say it is lower, and 26% say it has stayed the same (Taylor, 2013).

The Role of Propaganda and Personal Beliefs

Americans encounter propaganda daily, whether through teenage drama, storytelling, or breaking news. An individual's perspective on a topic is often influenced by their upbringing and parental beliefs. Some Americans teach their children that guns are bad and symbolize something distasteful, disciplining young children for crafting pretend guns out of pipe cleaners. Others allow their children to form their own beliefs, teaching them that gun ownership is a right and responsibility, emphasizing that guns are tools to be respected and enjoyed.

Gun Control and Its Impact

Gun disgust is a primary reason gun-control advocates promote laws that have little effect on reducing gun violence. Surprisingly, the debate over the effects of gun-control laws on crime is not as controversial as one might think. The National Academy of Sciences found that gun-control laws have had no measurable effect on gun violence rates. Notably, the study was not authored by gun-rights advocates; in fact, all but one member of the committee were gun-control advocates (Burrus, 2013).

In 2001, the American Medical Association recommended that doctors ask patients about gun ownership during office visits. Interestingly, they did not recommend asking about swimming pools or bicycles, both of which are statistically more likely to result in accidental deaths than guns. Yet gun-control advocates have no issue with “allowing” private swimming pools and bicycles, understanding that people can enjoy biking and swimming (Burrus, 2013).

Conclusion

In conclusion, many people are uninformed about how guns can be used positively. They rely on propaganda, lies, and myths to sway others to their viewpoint. They push for more laws without fully understanding the situation. It is crucial for people to become educated on this topic, and hopefully, this essay will contribute to that enlightenment.

References

Burrus, T. (2013, March 19). The debate over gun control laws. Retrieved from [source]

Taylor, P. (2013, May 7). Gun crime is down, but Americans believe it's up. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from [source]

Ten myths about gun control. (1996, March). Retrieved from [source]