Persuasive Essay On School Shootings

The public has programmed many to perceive those with mental illnesses as more dangerous. According to the New Yorker, a study done in 2013 showcased that forty-six percent of respondents believe that people suffering from a mental illness pose a greater danger to society than those without. Furthermore, two recent Gallup polls, from 2011 and 2013, demonstrated that more people believe that mass shootings transpire because of a failure in the mental health system, not due to the easy access of guns. In the cases of Sandy Hook, Marysville-Pilchuck, Virginia Tech, and more, teachers, students, parents, and most importantly, the public, automatically assumed only insanity could cause the performance of those acts. Of course, mental illness can play an immense factor in a person’s likelihood to commit violent acts, but pinpointing it as the paramount reason for them should not happen. After lengthy analyses of data that discusses the correlation of gun violence and mental disorders, Jeffrey Swanson, a medical sociologist and professor of psychiatry at Duke University concluded that mental illness became a risk factor for gun violence in four percent of cases. Although the presented facts disclose the almost non-existent connection between mental illness and gun violence, many continue believing the opposite.

“Guns don’t kill people, people do.” This is a well known statement that is oftentimes considered true. However, it is not completely true. Someone who is mentally ill may be unable to make logical decisions and the perception they receive of reality may be tainted by the illness. Gun laws pertaining to those suffering mental illnesses should be more restrictive. Weapons such as guns make committing an act of violence, especially when there are multiple victims, much easier. It is difficult to assess the probability of a person to commit a violent act that harms anyone including himself/herself. Therefore, gun laws need be monitored very closely and made more consistent throughout each state in order to prevent violence that could

People with mental illnesses are referred to a wide range of mental health conditions disorders that affect your mood, thinking, and behavior. Examples like Autism, Anxiety Issues, and many more that affect them. It is so easy for anyone to get guns. About over 300 million have been made and sold to people in 2012, so there is a large supply of them. (My Turn: Should People with Mental Illnesses Own Guns?”, 2015). You can easily get one by just bribing a stranger or from a family member so it’s very easy to get one. There should be stricter gun control laws for those individuals with a mental illness history because guns are falling into the hands of people whose actions are unpredictable, research shows that many of the crimes committed are by those with a known mental illness, and the current wait time for owning a gun allows people with a mental illness to act without seeking help first.

Every year 30,000 americans die from guns while others have the privilege to end up with a disability rather than dieing. The men and women who are diagnosed with a mental illness and obtain guns often commit suicide and crimes such as mass shootings, and murders. Because healthcare providers don't report the mental illness’ of many people to the FBI these people are able to pass a background check when they attempt to purchase a gun. Although the second amendment allows people the right to bear arms, it has become easy for the mentally ill to acquire guns and gun control should be strengthened for this very reason.

How might stricter gun control laws help prevent future school shootings? The answer to this question begins with complete understanding of the epidemic of school shootings as a horrible and morbid act that takes place from a mentally unstable perpetrator. A perpetrator that should never be able to purchase a gun or have access to a gun. Funding needs to be supplied to the President’s proposals to help prevent future school shootings. Funding for more mental health awareness needs to be established in America’s homes and our school’s personnel since many of the mass school shooters showed signs of an unbalanced state of mind. Adding access to citizens medical records through NICS regarding mental illness would prevent the act of legal gun purchases made by a mentally ill perpetrator. Funding for more police officers to protect schools

Some of the guns used in these shootings were purchased illegally, but in most cases, such as the Virginia Tech shooting, they were purchased legally (Griffin). In order to buy guns legally the stores must run a background check on the person, and currently there is no way of knowing if the person suffers from a mental illness especially if the person has never gone to a doctor for it. While the background checks are necessary they are not all that helpful because most of the crimes committed with guns involve guns that were purchased illegally. The people who are buying guns legally are typically purchasing them for self and home protection These people will most likely only shoot their guns at a range. Surveys of inmates have shown that if they thought that there was a gun in a house they would avoid it. If there were better means of stopping illegal guns the number of crimes committed with guns would drop

Did you know there have been fifty mass murders/attempted mass murders at a school since Columbine and one hundred and forty-one people have lost their lives in these fifty mass murders? All together, there have been two hundred and seventy shootings of any kind at a school, sixty-eight percent of these shooters got their weapons from relatives at home. In the recent events, you mentioned Nikolas Cruz was “mentally disturbed” but did you know the mentally ill only conduct about one percent of all mass shootings? He was able to purchase an assault rifle at the age of eighteen, but do we really need assault rifles, military grade weapons, in our homes? In the hands of United States Citizens? We need control on our guns, that

These are innocent children and teachers that are being killed by lunatics carrying a gun. Adam Lanza was the shooter in the Sandy Hook shooting that killed twelve students, six school employees, and his mother. Adam had many untreated disorders such as anxiety, excessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia, and aspergers. This proves that if we had stronger background checks this may never have happened. The gun sellers simply don't care about who is buying their guns, all they care about is making money. Adam was also using an AR-15 which is an assault weapon that should be outlawed for civilians. James Holmes was responsible for the mass movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. This shooting killed 12 people and injured 70 others. Experts say the reason why James shot up the movie theater was because he had an untreated schizophrenia disorder. In these two incidences the killers were able to get guns, even though they were mentally ill. They were guilty of the crimes, but sometimes our Judicial System will find them innocent for reasons of insanity and may eventually be let back into society. The senseless shootings might all be prevented with more thorough background

While the citizens of the United States of America should be allowed to own and make use of their firearms, in the case of protecting themselves against harm, there should be a better system in place to ensure that a person does not have a mental illness that could endanger another person if they have access to firearms. This is also the same in the case of a person having a criminal record, such as having a prior conviction as a result of illegally owning a firearm or

History relating to the issue of gun violence and mass shooting can be dated back for decades. One of the most common misconceptions is that the cause of these shootings is not the availability of but that mental illnesses of those that obtain the guns are. However, there is little to no evidence that truly supports this argument. As stated in the article, Mass Shootings and Mental Illness written by James L. Knoll IV and D. Annas, “The overall contribution of people with serious mental illness to violent crimes is only about 3%. When these crimes are examined in detail, an even smaller percentage of them are found to involve firearms. (p.81/90)” This misconception among many can be attributed, as outlined in the article, to today’s media coverage.

Gun control can be a very touchy topic. In the past couple of weeks, school shootings have occured. 19 total mass shootings and something pops out from these suspects. In almost every suspect of the shooting has a form of mental illness. In order to reduce violence we must stop selling firearms to those with mental illnesses. Although they can plead the 2nd amendment, from their past occurrences; The mentally ill should not be trusted with firearms. In order to ensure this, the process of buying a firearm should be more complex, more in depth. As of right now, to purchase a firearm; You must be 18 years of age, they do a background check on you, and lastly you’ll need a gun license. There should be more to this process. Perhaps a mental check,a federal background check, ect.

With approximately 30,000 men, women and children dying each year at the barrel of a gun in elementary schools, movie theaters, workplaces, houses of worship and on live television, the United States faces a public health crisis of gun violence. With stricter gun rights we can put a stop to terrorism and shootings. If the government puts the guns in the hands of people with mental illnesses, then they are allowing the violence to continue. Also it is undoubtedly true that people who are a danger to self and/or others because of mental illness should be prohibited from owning firearms. It is less clear, however, how to tailor new policies to better protect the American civilization while at the same time avoiding the stigmatization of Americans with mental illness. People that have mental issues cannot control themselves, it is undeniable if that person has shown violent tendencies they shouldn't have access to weapons that could be used to harm themselves or others. Mental illness is one of the main reasons that can cause gun violence. Massive shootings by people with mental illnesses represents the most significant relationship between gun violence and mental issues. Gun laws focusing on people with illness or a psychiatric diagnosis are reasonable, even if they add to the stigma already associated with mental illness. “Mass shootings by people with serious mental illness represent less than 1% of all yearly gun-related homicides. In contrast, deaths by suicide using firearms account for the majority of yearly gun-related deaths” (James, L.Knoll). People that have serious mental illness issues should be considered dangerous and should not be allowed to hold a gun. There should be stricter legislation on gun rights. The 2nd Amendment rights means “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and

A study by Dr. Jason Matejkowski, a professor at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, explored the criminal records of over 500 convicted murderers. The study finds mental illness was associated with a lower likelihood of using a firearm during the crime. Looking at the statistics and studies, it is quite obvious that an extremely small portion of firearm related violence has occurred from those with a mental illness. If this is the case, why does the government focus on passing more laws specifically targeting the mentally ill? The main response from the government has been to prohibit certain groups of people from buying these weapons; rather, the government should focus more on tightening gun access for all Americans instead of targeting the mentally ill – who comprise of only a small percentage of firearm related accidents. Instead of passing more bills that don’t really accomplish anything, the laws currently in place should be strengthened and more strongly enforced in order to limit the amount of firearm related violence in

Guns are not the problem the people that wield them are. “Levels of violent crime have been receding in America in recent years, so guns can’t really be a problem.”(Gopnik) Everyone does not have the mindset of being violent. The people that do partake in violence are sometimes paranoid and hate-filled. Even though some people are mentally ill that does not mean that everyone should be deprived of their rights in the Constitution.

School safety has become a major issue around the nation. This ongoing debate revolves around the topic of gun violence and mental illness. Mentally ill persons are able to attain guns very easily and use them in dangerous ways that are harmful to other people. What can be done on school safety and gun violence in America to keep our children in a safe environment and protect the rest of the nation? In order to prevent gun deaths and increase school safety, people that are at a high risk of harming themselves or others must be checked out. Also, better background checks and procedures need to be put in place during the short process of buying a gun.