Background Checks Are The Most Effective Way Of Preventing Gun Crimes

Violence and crimes are growing in number and affecting American society. By reinforcing background checks we could reduce crimes and limit easy gun access to mentally ill people. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is a database where the names of people that have committed a misdemeanor, are mentally ill or drug abusers is kept to prevent them from attaining guns. Most criminals buy guns from unlicensed sellers at gun shows that don’t do properly background checks through the NICS, making it easier from criminals to purchase firearms. Another problem is missing records or information that was not reported to the background check system. Better background checks could reduce crime and gun violence in America.

One of the effective gun control methods we have in place today is background checks. But many people are wondering today if background checks are truly effective? Do they really help preventing firearm fatalities? States with the most gun control laws have seen about a 42% decrease in the overall firearm fatalities. They also saw a decrease of firearm related homicides by 40% and in firearm related suicides by 37% (Watkins). According to the Department of Justice, in 2010 about 41% of felons were denied the right to buy a gun from a federally licensed dealer due to a background check (Frandsen, Lauver, Lee, Naglich).

The article Research Suggests Gun Background Checks Work, But They're Not Everything (http://www.npr.org/2016/01/09/462252799/research-suggests-gun-background-checks-work-but-theyre-not-everything) reveals,” As the New York Times found in a December investigation, the guns used in many recent high-profile shootings were purchased legally by people who passed background checks”. Indisputably, several mass shootings that have taken place have transpired even with background checks along many other lower profile gun deaths that would occur even with the establishment of universal background checks, and many can be attributed to failures in handling key information for background checks. Nonetheless, the mindset that a gun control measure will stop every single gun death is unreasoned. Instead, the main purpose of instituting universal background checks is to hinder as many deaths by gun as possible and in the mean-time permitting just citizens to “keep and bear arms”. An enhanced way to combat mass shootings through universal background checks would oblige those responsible for updating information in background checks to complete their job and guarantee the information holds true. “Thirty-three died at Virginia Tech in 2007 after the state’s database failed to

medical history, or any type of records when buying or owning a gun. Checking records of any sort can prevent a massacre to occur. The proposal of the background checks was passed by congress in 2013. What are background checks and what do the check in the background you might ask. Backgrounds checks are known as “Universal Background Checks”, according to csgv.org, prevents felons or prohibit purchasers to buy guns by checking their medical history, checking their criminal records, or both. They believe that this proposal is will be more effective, because it will prevent any more massacres and still protect the rights of people who want to own

Gun control debates of the past have led to the passage of some legislation, the most prominent measure being the Brady Bill, which required that background checks be run on potential customers before they were sold a gun. However, this national legislation concerning gun control only applies to licensed gun dealers. This has left a huge “gun control loophole,” the sale of firearms by unlicensed dealers and private collectors at gun shows, at the national level, which has recently become the center of intense debate. Those who support gun control (generally liberals) argue that it is necessary to regulate this area, while the other side of the debate (generally conservatives) contends that the enforcement of gun control

Guns and Crime, 2012 Formed in 2006, Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 550 mayors who support reforms to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the United States, while still respecting the Second Amendment. The background check system designed by Congress in 1993 to prohibit dangerous people from purchasing guns is not working effectively. But with the enforcement of critical new regulations, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) could be an effective tool in preventing gun violence. One such regulation would require the names of all people known to be dangerous or criminal be registered in the NICS database, and those

Background checks are another way to control the flow of guns in the United States. Background check can be harmful or helpful. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 mandates such checks. In November 1998, the FBI unveiled the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Using this electronic system, federally licensed gun dealers can perform and instant background check on anyone trying to purchase a firearm. The dealer completes a document called a Firearms Transaction Record. It includes Information about the buyer and the gun. The dealer submits this document to NICS, which informs the dealer of the buyer’s status within minutes. Since NICS began, it has stopped more than seven hundred thousand gun

In the article, Americas Deadly Gun Addiction, By the Numbers written by Joanna Pearlstein, data is released regarding the United States having more guns that adults in the country. The mass shootings across the country has led to many civilians wanting more gun control. President Obama spoke to the nation that more background checks will be ran to hopefully reduce this situation, and lower the gun deaths in the United States, however gun lobbyers argue that it is not the guns themselves that are causing the issue and they believe that no matter how many background checks are ran you cannot make sure that a fun will not be placed in the hands of someone who many end someone’s life unexpectedly.

According to the lecture on Gun Violence, there are currently over 300 million guns in the possession of private citizen. Americans have over 75 guns per 100 people, whereas other western countries range from 5 to 30 guns per 100 people (2007 small arms survey). Gun violence is a major issue in the United States due to lack of gun control. The lack of gun control makes handguns too readily available to citizens, allows those who should not own a firearm the ability to purchase firearms, and no policy on secure storage of firearms. As a result, I conclude that a combination of restriction of private ownership of handguns and stricter background check and storage policy would eliminate some of the violence caused by guns. To decrease gun violence

The questions that surround the issues of gun safety have resurfaced again since the recent shootings in Arizona. (Luo) Are background checks enough to help prevent shooting violence? Do guns that have the capacity to fire several rounds without having to reload have any influence on the number of deaths that occur due to shootings? Should mental health be screened further as a preventative safety measure? It is suggested that perhaps we the American people will never know.

This allows anyone to get their hands on a weapon legally without any restraints. The background checks can determine life or death in another individual. In many cases, those who act with gun violence are mentally unstable or have history with violence. “Mandated by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 and launched by the FBI on November 30, 1998, NICS is used by Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to instantly determine whether a prospective buyer is eligible to buy firearms” (NICS). Before making a sale, the cashier must check with the FBI (or other designated agencies) to make sure that the buyer does not have a criminal record, mental health issues, or any factor that could make the buyer ineligible of purchasing a gun. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is about protecting and saving lives by not letting a gun be put in the hands of someone dangerous. By simply checking a person’s background, much of the gun violence in the United States can be

First to be discussed on President Obama’s gun control plan is to require anyone wanting to purchase a gun to comply with a National Background Check System created by Brady Act. Why? You may want to ask must we require a background check for all gun sales. The answer is while most people wanting to purchase a gun will be responsible with it while they enjoy hunting or shooting as a sport and while others want a gun for personal protection, however, there are people in this country that don’t need a gun or is prohibited from having a gun either because they have a mental illness that makes having a gun unsafe or they have been convicted of a felony or domestic violence either way want people in control of a gun to use it responsibly and not used it for

The United States is home to approximately 5% of the world’s population and 31% of all mass shootings. Through these mass shootings and various other methods of gun violence, tens of thousands of people die every year. These gun-related deaths primarily originate from murder and children accidentally shooting themselves. Although those in favor of gun control tend to believe that guns should be terminated completely, the second amendment prevents lawmakers from being able to do so. Therefore, in order to combat these causes, alternative gun control solutions must be made for each one. Gun-related murders can be decreased through the use of universal background checks. Additionally, accidental shootings can be minimized through the

The majority of US states don’t have background check requirements for private gun sales or transfer of ownership. In 31 states, people can purchase firearms from unlicensed sellers without undergoing a background check. According to a 2012 study by Injury Prevention of prison inmates convicted of gun crimes in 13 states, 96% of offenders who were legally prohibited from owning a firearm acquired their gun from a supplier who didn’t conduct background checks. According to Philip Cook and Jens Ludwig, the databases utilized in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, have an incomplete coverage. Far too many states fall short on submitting prohibiting mental health and other records. Five states had made fewer than 10 records available and eight states had made fewer than 100 records available as of November 2014, according to FBI data. The failure of states to submit records severely limits the effectiveness of NICS. In a national online survey of 1,613 gun owners, 22% who reported obtaining their most recent firearm within the past two years said they did so without a background check. Additionally, the current background checks do not prohibit stalkers or people with Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs) from being able to get a gun. The private sales or gun show loophole with the current gun laws

For one thing, background checks can aware us if the person has any criminal history that involves violence and short tempered people. This would give us the opportunity to have more gun control and it reduces the deaths by guns. According to the article of the leading source for pros and cons of controversial issues, “Guns were the