Addressing the Gun Law Dilemma: Bidens Efforts to Curb Rising Gun Violence

Abstract

[Name] Has Biden Administration expressed any concerns about gun rights and control regarding the rising rate of gun violence? Gun rights and control have been a controversial and political issue that stirs hot debates in America due to the rising rate of gun violence. One can argue that gun violence as a gun-related behavior aimed at hurting, injuring, or killing the target audience. There are many forms of gun violence ranging from violent crime, suicide, attempted suicide, homicide, injury, and unintentional deaths that make the current gun laws a problem that demands consideration to control and stop such in-eventualities. However, it has been a great challenge to make any significant impact on the rising cases of gun violence as American citizens enjoy the privilege of gun access and ownership without any major hindrances (Pierre, 2019). There has been a consistent political divide on this issue from previous administrations but Biden Administration it has expressed great abilities in addressing gun law issues aimed at reducing the rate of gun violence. It is imperative to have a clear insight into the connection between the current gun law and the rising rate of gun violence, making the issue a matter of concern to many Americans. Origin of Gun Laws Enhancing Gun Violence Gun right in America plays a significant role in fostering gun violence. As stated earlier, gun violence involves intentionally or unintentionally using a gun to hurt, injure or kill. However, it is imperative to note that without guns, such violence can remain controlled, managed, and eliminated among Americans. For this reason, it is open that the current gun law governing gun rights among Americans has failed in controlling gun access, thus exposing all Americans to gun culture, which turns them into monsters. Federal gun laws, all state governments, and some local governments have personal laws that regulate firearms. These laws regulate and offer protections on gun and firearms manufacturing, trade, possession, record keeping, and transfer, allowing Americans to enjoy such gadgets at their disposal (Pierre, 2019). While paying close attention to the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, it is evident that it enhances the acquisition of guns among Americans by offering protections on the right to bear and keep firearms. Although the constitution does not provide for violent behavior related to gun ownership, many take advantage of this protection. Instead of using such firearms for self-defense, they use them against each other as a form of violence, causing harm and claiming many lives. It is imperative to have a brief history of important events relating to gun legislation to understand how long American have enjoyed gun access, storage, and use, leading to uncontrollable gun violence. The Second Amendment's origin dates back to 1791 when the government ratified the United States Bill of Rights. The Amendment stated, "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of Free State, the right of people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” (Webster & Gostin, 2022). It is a protection that has allowed millions of Americans, including underage, to have access to guns resulting in misuse in most instances. Looking in 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Administration signed the National Firearm Act into law to curb prohibition-era violence that saw a rise in the homicide rate. Although this served as the first gun control legislation, its efforts to control homicide did not have log significant effect; thus, the same president signed the Federal Firearms Act of 1938 (FFA) into law, demanding Federal Firearms Licenses for all gun-related businesses (Ascione, 2014). However, despite such efforts, gun control remained a challenge due to gun ownership rights leading to a rise in gun violence with the major assassination of public figures like John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King. After these assassinations, President Lyndon B. Johnson pushed for the Gun Control Act of 1968 to replace the FFA of 1938, especially on the definition of destructive devices and imposing 21 years as the minimum age for accessing handguns. It is the GCA of 1968 that prohibited the sale of Arms to the mentally ill and felons as a way of regulating gun violence. However, with the protections on keeping and bearing Arms, it remained a challenge for the Act to stop gun violence (Kleck, 2019). Ronald Reagan administration passed the Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA) of 1986, contrary to previous gun legislation aimed at protecting gun ownership, making it easier for Americans to have firearms at their disposal. Such a move enhanced gun violence as many would experiment with gun use and self-defense in violent manners, injuring or claiming lives (Lacombe, 2022). George W. Bush Administration also passed a similar Law, "The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act," of 2005, protecting gun manufacturers from becoming connected with victims of crimes using guns manufactured by their company (Carson, 2020). It is a law that gave manufacturers the guts to produce trillions of guns and sell them without fear. Since then, the Supreme Court has resolved gun-related cases in favor of the Second Amendment, allowing gun violence to remain a potential culture among Americans. New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc. V. Bruen is the most recent case ruled by the Supreme Court in favor of the Second and Fourteenth Amendments citing their protections on individuals’ right to carry guns for self-defense outside their homes and that any state licensing regime may violate the Constitution (Hardy, 2022). Such a ruling puts fire on gun violence making many Americans take advantage of such protections at the expense of others. Solutions to [Author]s As discussed above, previous presidents have tried without success to formulate and enforce gun control laws. In contrast, some have expressed no interest in changing gun laws but in strengthening gun ownership in support of the second and the fourteenth Amendments. However, in only two years in office, Biden Administration has confirmed the need for strict gun control laws, which is a potential solution to the gun violence problem that Americans have witnessed for centuries. Based on Wamser-Nanney (2021), almost 40 000 Americans die of gun violence injuries, while more than thousands sustain wounds yearly. For this reason, Joe Biden has expressed continued efforts to enhance gun control while on other administrations like Obama’s and within his Administration winning the National Rifle Association (NRA) twice on the national stage. According to Ashfaq (2021), back in 1993, Biden shepherded the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act advocating for a background check system that helped keep over three million firearms out of dangerous hands. During Obama's Administration, Biden developed legislative proposals and executive actions making the administration narrow gun show loopholes for community safety which Biden Administration continues to pursue. A background check ensures that mentally ill felons do not have access to firearms,...