Gun Laws by Jonathan Jackson

         The violence in Chicago is terrible, and it keeps getting worse every year. In the year of 2012, more than 500 homicides were directly related to gun violence. This statistic shows that Chicago does not have sufficient gun controls.  These laws are not effective in controlling the gun violence. Therefore, I believe that the city should create gun control laws that focus on fully examining and clearing gun purchasers. When compared to 2011, shootings have increased by 12% and homicides are up 19% in 2012. In the city of Chicago, many people are concerned about how rising violence in their city could affect their children’s lives. Shirley Chambers, a Chicagoan and former resident of Cabrini Green, was a mother of four, but she lost all of her children to gun violence. This is an example of how families are affected by the violence.

 

       I believe most citizens would feel much safer if they knew who had guns in their local community. I am in favor of more intensive background checks which would include family interviews, history, background, neighbor interviews and inspection of the residence. After purchasing a gun, the gun owner would need to report quarterly, and if the gun were lost, the owner would have to report the loss immediately. If it were discovered that the owner did not report the missing gun, the owner would be fined and sentenced to jail. To support this increased background check, I recommend charging a fee for the background check. The price of the fee would depend on the damage that could be done by the weapon. Background checks are used in Virginia, and since 1989, the state has turned down 54,260 applications for gun permits. Even though Virginia is a different state, it proves my point that gun violence could be reduced by background checks. I know that putting a tool for protection in the wrong hands could lead to a tool for destruction.