Gun Violence in America

The right to own firearms is protected by the Second Amendment to the Constitution. In the 1700s, the king of England ruled the colonists harshly. After the colonies won independence, the Constitution’s Framers wanted to make sure that Americans could arm themselves if they ever again needed to overthrow an unjust ruler.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right to bear arms in 2008. It ruled that individuals have the right to own and carry weapons for self-defense. Many people—gun owners and non-gun owners alike—support that decision.

“The Second Amendment makes it clear that the people have the right to keep and bear arms,” explains Jordan Stein of Gun Owners of America, a gun rights organization.

The right to own firearms is protected by the Second Amendment to the Constitution. In the 1700s, the king of England ruled the colonists harshly. Then the colonies won independence from England. The Constitution’s Framers wanted to make sure that Americans could arm themselves if they ever again needed to overthrow an unjust ruler.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right to bear arms in 2008. It ruled that individuals have the right to own and carry weapons for self-defense. Many gun owners and non-gun owners alike support that decision.

“The Second Amendment makes it clear that the people have the right to keep and bear arms,” explains Jordan Stein of Gun Owners of America. That is a gun rights organization.

But as with other freedoms granted by the Constitution, there are limits on how Americans can exercise their Second Amendment rights. For example, federal law regulates who is allowed to buy guns from licensed gun dealers. People must be 18 or older to buy shotguns or rifles and at least 21 to buy handguns.

Some groups, such as people who have been found guilty of certain crimes, are banned from buying guns. And licensed gun dealers must conduct background checks on buyers before completing sales. Such checks are meant to prevent people who are not allowed to have guns from buying them.

This might sound like a strong set of regulations, but many Americans say current laws don’t go far enough. Firearms often end up in the wrong hands anyway. That’s in part because there are major holes in our gun law system, many experts say. For example, the U.S. government doesn’t require background checks when individuals sell their guns online or at gun shows. 

But as with other freedoms granted by the Constitution, there are limits on how Americans can exercise their Second Amendment rights. For example, federal law regulates who is allowed to buy guns from licensed gun dealers. People must be 18 or older to buy shotguns or rifles. People must be at least 21 to buy handguns.

Some groups are banned from buying guns. This includes people who have been found guilty of certain crimes. And licensed gun dealers must run background checks on buyers before completing sales. Such checks are meant to keep people who are not allowed to have guns from buying them.

This might sound like a strong set of regulations. But many Americans say current laws do not go far enough. Firearms often end up in the wrong hands anyway. That is partly because there are major holes in our gun law system, many experts say. For example, the U.S. government does not require background checks when individuals sell their guns online or at gun shows.

Fifty years ago, most American gun owners possessed firearms for hunting, says Cassandra Crifasi, who studies gun policy at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. “Now the primary reason people buy firearms is for self-defense,” explains Crifasi, a gun owner herself.

Fifty years ago, most American gun owners had firearms for hunting, says Cassandra Crifasi. She studies gun policy at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. “Now the primary reason people buy firearms is for self-defense,” explains Crifasi. She is a gun owner herself.

But owning a gun does not make people safer, research suggests. In fact, it can have the opposite effect. People who live in homes where a gun is present are twice as likely to be the victim of a homicide as people in households without guns, according to a study from the University of California, San Francisco. One reason is that when a firearm is readily available, a heated argument can quickly turn deadly, even between family members.

And people in homes with guns are significantly more likely to die of an accidental gunshot injury—and three times more likely to commit suicide. 

But owning a gun does not make people safer, research suggests. In fact, it can have the opposite effect. People who live in homes where a gun is present are twice as likely to be the victim of a homicide as people in households without guns. That is according to a study from the University of California, San Francisco. One reason is that when a firearm is readily available, a heated argument can quickly turn deadly. That can happen even between family members.

And people in homes with guns are a lot more likely to die of an accidental gunshot injury. They are also three times as likely to commit suicide.

Though public views on gun control have fluctuated over the years, about 60 percent of people in the U.S. now support stricter firearm laws, according to a 2019 poll by Quinnipiac University. The numbers are even higher among young Americans; 73 percent believe that gun laws should be strengthened, according to a separate 2018 poll.

One likely reason is that today’s teens and young adults have grown up in a world shaped by school shootings, such as one at a Florida high school in 2018, in which 17 students were killed. Such attacks are not common, but they receive a lot of news coverage. And kids and teens, unlike their parents, have had to practice active-shooter drills in school. 

Public views on gun control have shifted over the years. About 60 percent of people in the U.S. now support stricter firearm laws. That is according to a 2019 poll by Quinnipiac University. The numbers are even higher among young Americans. According to a separate 2018 poll, 73 percent of young Americans believe that gun laws should be strengthened.

One likely reason is that today’s teens and young adults have grown up in a world shaped by school shootings. For example, 17 students were killed in a shooting at a Florida high school in 2018. Such attacks are not common. But they receive a lot of news coverage. And kids and teens have had to practice active-shooter drills in school. That is something their parents never had to do.

Many experts say one of the most effective ways to reduce firearm deaths would be a federal law requiring a license to buy, carry, or own a gun—similar to how people need a license to drive a car. (Only a few states currently require gun licenses.) That could help prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands, Crifasi says, in part because it would allow officials to conduct more thorough background checks on applicants.

Other countries have proved that nationwide gun control legislation can be effective. Australia overhauled its gun laws after experiencing a mass shooting in 1996. Among other measures, the country added a 28-day waiting period for gun purchases and banned automatic and semiautomatic rifles. Within a few years, Australia’s non-accidental gun deaths had fallen by nearly half. 

Many experts say one of the most effective ways to reduce firearm deaths would be a federal law requiring a license to buy, carry, or own a gun. (Only a few states currently require gun licenses.) The law would be similar to how people need a license to drive a car. That could help keep guns from getting into the wrong hands, Crifasi says. The reason, in part, is that the licensing process would allow officials to conduct more thorough background checks on applicants. 

Other countries have proved that nationwide gun control legislation can be effective. Australia overhauled its gun laws after experiencing a mass shooting in 1996. Among other measures, the country added a 28-day waiting period for gun purchases. It banned automatic and semiautomatic rifles. Within a few years, Australia’s non-accidental gun deaths had fallen by nearly half.

Still, in the U.S., whether and how guns should be controlled has been hotly debated for years—with lawmakers and voters firmly rooted on both sides of the issue. As a result, Congress has not passed a major gun-safety law in more than two decades. 

In 2017, the nation’s deadliest mass shooting occurred at a music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nearly 60 people were killed. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump enacted a ban on bump stocks. Those are devices that can be added to rifles to make them fire faster. 

But some experts say the ban, which took effect in March 2019, isn’t likely to have a large effect on gun violence. They point out that rifles were used in less than 3 percent of U.S. firearm homicides in 2017.

Still, in the U.S., whether and how guns should be controlled has been hotly debated for years. Groups of lawmakers and voters are firmly rooted on both sides of the issue. As a result, Congress has not passed a major gun-safety law in more than two decades.

In 2017, the nation’s deadliest mass shooting occurred. It was at a music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nearly 60 people were killed. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump enacted a ban on bump stocks. Those are devices (used by the Las Vegas shooter) that can be added to rifles to make them fire faster.

The ban took effect in March 2019. But some experts say it is not likely to have a large effect on gun violence. They point out that rifles were used in less than 3 percent of U.S. firearm homicides in 2017.

Most gun control in the U.S. has been enacted at the state level. In recent years, some states have begun requiring more detailed background checks. Others have set stricter limits on who can purchase firearms. A few now require safety training for firearm owners. In addition, 17 states and Washington, D.C., recently added laws that can be used to temporarily remove firearms from people who are considered at risk of harming themselves or others.

Such laws have helped reduce gun deaths, experts say. They point to Hawaii and Massachusetts: Both states have some of the strictest gun laws and lowest gun-related death rates in the country.

Most gun control in the U.S. has been enacted at the state level. In recent years, some states have begun requiring more detailed background checks. Others have set stricter limits on who can buy firearms. A few now require safety training for firearm owners. In addition, 17 states and Washington, D.C., recently added laws that can be used to temporarily remove firearms from people who are considered at risk of harming themselves or others.

Such laws have helped reduce gun deaths, experts say. They point to Hawaii and Massachusetts as examples. Both states have some of the strictest gun laws and lowest gun-related death rates in the country.

However, other states are passing legislation that makes it easier to buy and carry firearms. In many of those states, hunting for food and sport is common, and guns are often an important part of daily life.

Within the past year, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and South Dakota made it legal for most adults to carry concealed firearms (guns hidden from view, such as in a pocket) without a permit. The practice is now legal in 15 states—up from 3 in 2010.

Such laws are intended to let people protect themselves and to honor the rights of responsible gun owners. Still, public health experts say that as long as some states keep expanding firearm freedoms, gun violence will continue to be a national problem—even in states that have made gun control a priority.

Illinois, for example, has strong gun control laws, but Chicago (its largest city) has hundreds of fatal shootings every year. About 20 percent of guns used in crimes there come from Indiana, a nearby state with weak gun control laws.

Public safety experts say that enacting stricter federal restrictions on buying and selling firearms could decrease firearm deaths—while still allowing law-abiding people to legally own guns.

However, other states are passing legislation that makes it easier to buy and carry firearms. In many of those states, hunting for food and sport is common. There, guns are often an important part of daily life.

Within the past year, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and South Dakota made it legal for most adults to carry concealed firearms without a permit. (Concealed firearms are guns hidden from view, such as in a pocket.) The practice is now legal in 15 states. That is up from 3 states in 2010.

Such laws are intended to let people protect themselves. They are also meant to honor the rights of responsible gun owners. Still, public health experts say that as long as some states keep expanding firearm freedoms, gun violence will continue to be a national problem. They say it will even stay a problem in states that have made gun control a priority.

For example, Illinois has strong gun control laws. But Chicago (its largest city) has hundreds of fatal shootings every year. About 20 percent of guns used in crimes there come from a nearby state. Many come from Indiana, which has weak gun control laws.

Public safety experts say that enacting stricter federal restrictions on buying and selling firearms could decrease firearm deaths. And it could still allow law-abiding people to legally own guns.