The Gun Control Act of 1968: Combating Gun Violence in America

Abstract

Informative Speech Topic: Gun Control Act in America General Purpose: To inform my target audience about the history of the Gun Control Act that American imposed in the mid 20th century. Introduction Attention Gainer: Guns don't kill people; people use guns to kill each other. However, even with minor decisions like complying with the Gun Control Act, life-saving becomes well defined. Reason to Listen: Gun control is of great merit amongst all Americans. Such an argument I attribute to gun ownership in America is a right entitled to its citizens making guns fall even in the wrong people's hands. With increasing gun violence/abuse claiming over 37,000 lives every year, the need for this debate becomes essential (Giffords Law Center, 2020). Speakers Credibility: I am an American by birth and, having spent almost all my life in America, have witnessed gun violence amongst youths and adults at colleges, streets as well as at domestic levels. I live in an area where this Act of Gun Control is enforced but unfortunately falls into deaf ears as gun abuse is still well defined in America. Thesis Statement: Today, I am going to be informing you about the Gun Control Act of 1968 through which, we will review the effects of gun ownership right in America and the impact of gun violence on the community as attributed to ignorance of the imposed gun controls. Preview Main Points: I will be sharing the causes of gun abuse/violence amongst Americans, the primary purpose of the Gun Control Act of 1968, the significant changes experienced upon its implementation as well as the consequences upon ignorance of the set controls Act. Body Main Point #1: Gun ownership in America was initially not controlled by any law, which paved the way for interstate commerce in firearms making unlicensed manufacturers, dealers and importers have firearms at their disposal without any struggles. (Sub-Point#1): Gun abuse is the act of diverting the core use of a gun (defensive reason) into a selfish act of hurting others or causing a commotion, which results in peace disturbance amongst humans. According to Waxman (2020) and Giffords Law Center (2020), this act of gun violence claims over 36,000 American lives every year. (Sub-Point #2): Based on a recent report compiled by Giffords Law Center (2020), the average deaths per years stands at 37,603, with suicides taking 22,926 and homicide taking 13 380, unintentional deaths 478, shootings by a law enforcement 510 while undermined deaths stand at 310 (graph). Such killings serve as great contributors to gun controls in efforts of combating such evil acts. TRANSITION STATEMENT: Gun violence has a well-defined history in America. With the assassination of significant political figures like John F. Kennedy in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. and former U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy in1968, societal attitude towards gun ownership shifted, compounding efforts to pass the Gun Control Act bill of 1968. Main Point #2: Gun Control Act of 1968 limits gun ownership by prohibiting interstate firearms transfers among unlicensed manufacturers, dealers and importers. (Sub-Point #1): The primary purpose of enacting this bill into law was directed to regulating interstate commerce in firearms. Based on a report compiled on TIME magazine by Waxman, it is confirmed that with the passing of the Gun Control Act of 1968, an immediate ban of interstate shipment of firearms as well as ammunition to private individuals, and also the sale of guns to mentally handicapped, minors and drug addicts was made effective. (Sub-Topic #2): President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Gun Control Act of 1968 into law on October 22nd 1968. This code became law in entire America and mandated the licensing of individuals and companies engaged in the business of selling firearms. This law effectively prohibited direct mail-order of loaded weapons (firearms) and instead advocated for federally licensed firearm dealers. This Act aimed at ensuring that guns are owned legally and by the right individuals by all means possible (Hay, 2018). TRANSITION STATEMENT: This Act served as the first significant gun control measure in the entire united states and was regarded as "better than nothing" in the TIME magazine headlines. Such efforts expressed a great decision that the Act enforcers directed to saving people's lives by ensuring societal change of attitude towards firearms. Main Point #3: The Gun Control Act, upon becoming a law, defined firearm acquisition changes and any firearm dealings therein. These changes were too loud to be ignored. (Sub-Topic#1): Assassination of JFK stirred debates on why people should not buy guns through interstate mail, a debate that yielded no change until the further assassination of...