Gun Control in Japan Provides no Questions Only Answers

    Faced daily with the shocking and tragic deaths caused by guns each year in the United States, I have considered what other countries do to minimize gun-related deaths each year. As only one example, Japan has adopted strict gun control laws which have proved to reduce the number of gun-related homicides in that country. In Japan no civilian may possess a firearm. There are a mere 0.07% intentional gun related homicides per 100,000 people in Japan compared to a staggering 13.47% per 100,000 people each year in the United States. I know that implementing a strict form of gun control and following a process of acquiring a gun permit similar to that which is done in Japan will reduce gun related deaths in the United States.
    The process of obtaining a permit would consist of the following: (1) shooting range classes will be provided, followed by a written test where the applicant must score in the 95th percentile; (2) a standard mental test will be administered to ensure the applicant is not suffering from a mental illness; (3) the applicant must then produce a medical certificate attesting that he or she is mentally healthy; (4) and the police have broad discretion to deny permits to any applicant who they feel would be at harm to society.   
    Many of those who oppose gun control will refer to the Second Amendment which states that it is the right of U.S citizens to bear a firearm. I’m confident that our Founding Fathers had our best interest in mind when they enacted that particular amendment, but over the past 200 years the seriousness of gun crime has increased. To ensure the “domestic tranquility” they so earnestly sought, it would be in the best interest of our nation to follow the Japanese form of gun control.

Alex


_________________________________________________________________

Availability of Guns

    Most states have different laws about the purchase of guns and who can own them. Here in Utah, licenses are not required to own guns, but a background check is required (waived for those with concealed carry permits). However, its always hard to tell who exactly has had their background checked when purchasing guns.

    In Utah, you are allowed to carry an unloaded (no bullet in chamber, atleast two “mechanical actions” away from firing) weapons without a concealed carry permit. The firearm must be completely visible unless you have a concealed carry permit. A concealed carry permit is not necessarily allowed throughout all 50 states. For example, the Utah permit is only good in 34 states.

    Utah is considered a “Stand Your Ground” state, meaning that it is not required to retreat before using deadly force on a perpetrator that is going to commit a forcible felony.

    So this all begs a question: Are firearms too easy to get? Some might say they are too hard to get. This varies greatly based on opinion and something that only you can decide.  This is something our society has been trying to decide for hundreds of years. But, we will never find a true medium.

Tyler

Gun Control Not Necessary?

    Many believe that gun control is not necessary at all. Many feel that everyone who can own a gun should. How likely would the Columbine shootings have been if everyone in the school had a gun under there trousers? They would have shot maybe 1-2 people then been shot themselves, perhaps. Fortunately for us, there is gun control enforced in our country. I do not feel that everyone should own a gun. I do not feel that half the people that have guns should own a gun.
    A lot of hunters and people of that nature don't like how much gun control we have. A lot of the paranoid schizophrenic people believe that we should have guns in our houses, just in case we get robbed. I, fortunately or not, do not agree. I believe that controlling who has guns, and how many, and what kind is a very necessary evil.
    My step brothers real father collected World War 2 items. He owns all sorts of things from outfits, to flamethrowers, to 50 caliber rifles. He probably could supply his entire neighborhood with some kind of weapon from the war. But just because he is one of the few exceptions who illegally owns these kind of guns and can actually handle himself without being a gun-toting hip gangster wannabe doesn't mean our entire nation should have access to whatever they like when they like it. It is dangerous to the person owning it, their family, and anyone who they get mad at. I guarantee that our suicide and homicide rate would go up if everyone owned a gun. That easy of access is not a safe environment for anyone.
    I believe that our gun control laws need to be more extensive. We should have more requirements before you own a gun and can carry it around in public. Things like psychoanalysis should be required, not just passing a background check and being 21. So to all you gun control haters, be glad we have gun laws. The next time you cut someone off, or flip them off, or push their little brother or whatever the circumstance might be, be glad they don't have access to guns.

Mike

How Strict Should We Be?

    For those people who want to increase gun control to some extent but feel that adopting a strict form of gun control will deprive them of the right to bear arms can gain greater understanding on the need for the strict laws by looking at the Australian style of gun control. In 1996 Australia adopted the Draconian gun control laws banning certain guns, requiring registration of all firearms and permits for all gun owners.              
    According to a study by Miguel A. Faria, Jr. M.D. the problem began with the Port Arthur, Tasmania tragedy in 1996, when a crazed assailant opened fire and shot 35 people. Australians were shocked and the government reacted quickly. Draconian gun legislation was passed immediately. As a result of the ban, all semiautomatic firearms (rifles and handguns) are prohibited, including .22 caliber rabbit guns and shotguns. Even after the legislation was passed, only 640,000 out of an estimated 7 million firearms were surrendered to police. According to Faria, the result to this enactment has been shocking. Twelve months after the law was implemented in 1997, there has been a 44 percent increase in armed robberies, an 8.6 percent increase in aggravated assaults and a 3.2 percent increase in homicides. Although many may say that this statistic does not coorelate with gun control the study also reveals that there has been a 300% increase in homicides committed with a firearm.
    The Australian government simply outlawed the use of many guns. But the Draconian style of Gun control does not adequately screen those acquiring a permit. Outlawing the guns does nothing more than make it more of a thrill to use the gun when someone has the intention to kill. To ensure the safety of our nation the process of acquiring a permit needs refinement and greater restriction and it is necessary for the safety of our nation.

Alex

Gilbert Arenas: Role Model Athlete or Stereotypical Thug?

    Those who follow the NBA, and even some that don’t, will remember an incident involving Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas, a.k.a. “Agent Zero”. It also involved lesser-known teammate Javaris Crittenton. The two got in a conflict about a gambling bet on a card game played while on the team jet. Both of them brought guns into the locker room, trying to intimidate each other. Somehow the word got out that they had guns in the locker room, when guns are prohibited in the arena altogether. The NBA suspended both players for the remainder of the season. The question is: Do the Washington Wizards change their name BACK to the Washington Bullets?

    All jokes aside, the real question is: can Gilbert Arenas be a role model for children in D.C. and around the country, or is he not who he really seems to be? Gilbert Arenas was sentenced to a hefty fine, many hours of community service (none of which can be done in basketball-related ventures), and two years probation.
    He constantly apologizes to the media and his fans everywhere, stating that he is against guns and looking to regain the trust of children and fans in Washington D.C. Is he only doing this for his personal interests; to save his career? Or does he really care about what people think of him. He claims he’s against guns altogether, yet he has a personal gun collection inside his own house.
    However, one thing that shows he’s serious about being a changed man is he will be hanging up the “Agent Zero” title, and starting a new point in his career. When he makes a comeback next season, he will be wearing No. 6, but has the damage already been done to the citizens of Washington?

Tyler

Gun Control on University of Utah Campus

    I’m sure that those who live in Utah will remember a controversial incident that happened in September of 2002. In the wake of the increase of shootings found on school campuses, the University of Utah President Bernie Machen tried to ban all concealed weapons on U of U property. Utah, however, is the one state as of 2008 that allow concealed weapons to be carried onto public university campus. After this failed attempt, a huge debate raged not only in the state of Utah, but in though out the nation. Are schools the right place for guns? Gun rights activists kept quiet during the strict security of the 2002 winter Olympics. But now they were looking to “reload” (a metaphor that Sarah Palin would be very proud of).
    The issue went straight to the US district court located in Utah, and their task was to decide whether or not this was a national or state issue. The court ruled that the states had the right to make these laws. The court also ruled later on that because the University was a public institution, it had no choice but to follow the state-wide law for allowing concealed carry permit holders to bring arms onto campus.
    This follows along the age-old debate: Are we safer in a world without guns? Or are we safer with guns to protect us? Of course, no society is ideal, but a world without guns is much more promising than a world where people are allowed to carry around whatever they want. But for now, the University of Utah is still open to people bringing their guns into classes. Some people feel nervous by this, some people feel safer by this and until something happens, this will never change.

Tyler

What's the worst that can happen?

    I remember an incident with my brother almost a year ago. He was cleaning his gun and he pulled the slide back to check the chamber to make sure there were no bullets in his gun, his slide let go and the chamber was then emptied. The bullet which was inside the chamber went through his thigh, breaking his femur into pieces. Without medical insurance this became a serious issue. He was rushed to the hospital and went directly to surgery. The next morning I began to think about gun control. I mean yes, it could have been a malfunction with the gun, but in my opinion that is less likely than someone mishandling the weapon. I believe that there should be more emphasis on gun control. There should be more time required and more education before you can own, or handle a gun.
    Who knows, maybe my brothers leg wouldn't be in a constant limp if he were a little more educated on how to handle a weapon. Maybe a lot of lives today wouldn't be lost because of mishandling weapons. This is something that the entire nation should consider.

 Mike