Unhealed US Wounds: Gun Control Perspectives

America’s Unhealed Wounds: Who Will Be the Next Target? The Sociological Perspectives on Gun Control

SOC 201 16238-DO4B

Jennifer Valentine

29 April 2018

Tidewater Community College

America’s Unhealed Wounds: Who Will Be the Next Target? The Sociological Perspectives on Gun Control

Gun control refers to firearm regulation which incorporates laws or policies of guns sales, production, and ownership. Gun control in the United States has changed over time and continues to change. The issue of gun control is highly controversial and involves many intense sociological, political, and legal perspectives.

America experiences widespread levels of violence including multiple mass shootings which receive significant media coverage. Gun violence and mass shootings touch every segment of our society. It increases the possibility of injury and deaths incidents of tragedies in the community.  It can happen anywhere, in homes, on streets, at work, in schools, and other numerous places and by self-inflicted shootings. Gun control laws and loose gun control laws affect society and displays dysfunctions in a sociological aspect.

Mass shootings and violent acts keep happening in the United States because of the broken system about gun laws. Loose gun control and mental health screening are  correlated issues.  Every time a mass shooting occurs, conservatives go on TV to offer thoughts and prayers. Whenever the nation is confronted with tragedy, mental illness has become the scapegoat. People with mental disorders are the easiest and most vulnerable targets the country has to offer. It is time for a change and gun control laws. This paper will discuss three main theoretical perspectives on gun control that can be applied to a wide variety of situations.

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The United States would be considered a country that has loose gun control laws. U.S civilian gun ownership is the highest worldwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that 36,252 deaths annually are from all firearm-related incidents. Every  100,000 Americans, they are victims of violence with a death rate of 11.3 in 2015 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017).  This includes unintentional deaths, suicide, homicide, undetermined, legal intervention, and war. A total of 150 U.S. mass shootings happened from Austin’s tower shooting on August 1, 1966, up to the recent incident of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on February 14, 2018 (The Washington Post, 2018). Public mass shooting grows each year and has risen dramatically. Many people were killed ranging from unborn to elderly, some were children and others were teenagers. Thousands of survivors were left with devastating injuries and family members were left with shattered psychological scars in their hearts.

Most citizens can buy a gun, do a quick background check and walk out from the gun shop with a new firearm on hand. Citizens’ gun ownership functions in a way of protecting themselves from others, the government, and their property. Every person should have a responsibility and discipline to use it carefully.  However, the dysfunction of loose gun control is that many guns are available and able to get hold of it which provides opportunities for accidents or tragedies waiting to happen. That is why strict gun control is needed to minimize and prevent the incident of additional mass shootings and tragic deaths in the country.

Stricter gun control laws are not seen as an individual problem but instead as a social issue that threatens the safety and well-being of the community. This dilemma requires action from the leadership and governance of the society. Gun control regulations contribute and decrease gun-related crimes and violence. However, the issue of gun control is one heated debate in American society. Many disagree with gun control who see gun ownership as a social, cultural, and individual right that is inherent in the 2nd Amendment of the constitution. People who are in favor of gun control have said that they have the right to defend themselves.

The heated argument left a gap and divisiveness in the country. It is a social disagreement between those in favor of social control and those who value individual freedom above social norms and socialism. The recent event that happened in Stoneman Douglas Highschool this year was a mind-boggling effect of loosed gun control. Widespread protest by teenagers voiced their anger and demonstrated their right to be heard. High school students’ perseverance to press lawmakers to pass stricter gun control laws to decrease the high rate of gun crimes and mass shootings in the country.  The urgency to change the gun regulations or introduce gun reform was the reasons why they were protesting.

Guns are an important part of American culture in  society. The role of guns plays an important piece in the U.S. from a sociological perspective.Three paradigms have come to dominate sociological thinking to explain many aspects of social life.

Structural functionalism sees a positive function of society as a structure to contribute to the whole (OpenStax, Introduction to Sociology 2e, p. 15). Through Structural functionalist macro-level perspective, guns can either maintain strength and order in  society. Having  this kind of protection or guns possession, it can delay security and order by causing threats and violence. Gun empowers individuals which can be seen as an object of power. To keep citizens in their place, authorities licensed guns to keep things in order. Gun control licenses can be given to individuals who use a firearm as a sport or for hunting which brings people together for a common and love sport or their hobbies.

One view that has become a powerful talking point in the rise of gun crimes, especially during mass shootings, is a result of “cultural scripts.” (Wierzbicka & Goddard, 2004). These are the pattern of interaction which is unique to a particular culture in articulating cultural norms, values, and practices. (Wierzbicka & Goddard, 2004). This view is in line with many sociological concepts. The issue of social stratification refers to the view of those in the lower economic levels of  society who feels most threatened and would be most likely to oppose any form of gun control. The concept of socialization is also related to gun control. This issue of political socialization into a culture of violence through the media and entertainment has become one of the critiques of society. The use of guns in mass-shooting incidents is a phenomenon that is becoming common in the country. This socialization into politics can come from family members, peers, the educational system, and mass media. Social media is the one  the most influential. Political views may cause frustration to the other people which may lead to violence. Many sociologists see it as central to the need for gun control.

The theory of anomie, supported by Durkheim explains the causes of the high rate of gun crime. It refers to the concept of time of chaos and “normlessness” or “without law” (OpenStax, Introduction to Sociology 2e, p. 80) or a lack of meaning and direction in modern societies. The theory states that there is a relation between loss of meaning, social uncertainty and a breakdown of social solidity and unity and the increase in violent crimes. It also refers to the lack of social integration and social regulation within society. According to Durkheim, social integration or the strength of ties that people have to their social groups was a key factor in social life (OpenStax, Introduction to Sociology 2e, p. 80). The situation in which there is a lack of regulation is called anomie. Disproportion in  society increases the rate of deviance. Durkheim’s theory is based on egoism or lack of integration and anomie or lack of regulation. Therefore, this theory can be applied to the problem of gun control and gun killing in a way that allows us to see the deeper aspect of sociological dimensions of the issue.

Conflict theory looks to social and economic factors as the cause of crime and deviance. Conflict theorists see them as evidence of inequality in the system (OpenStax, Introduction to Sociology 2e, p. 140). This refers to  Marx’s macro-level approach which he believes that inequalities of political power and social structure cause conflict (OpenStax, Introduction to Sociology 2e, p. 16). Marx analyzes the societal conflict which he believes conflict as symptomatic of sociological dysfunction and a sign of bias and error within the nature and structure of the system. Based on conflict theory, gun control would keep the people weak and unable to rebel against the government when the time comes. The government officials and policymakers have the power and people must abide. Gun control also empowers the wrong individuals with weapons of mass destruction that can endanger society. Gun control allows  individuals to mass acquire firearms and market them to anyone who can purchase firearms illegally.

Lastly, when looking at the Symbolic Interactionism micro-level theory, the symbolic value argues that some gun owners are the affirmation of their individualism and equality. This pertains to the American value that instills in every citizen. So, some may see that gun ownership symbolizes  patriotism. Those who support gun ownership point to their Second Amendment right to bear arms. According to the U.S. Constitution, Amendment II (1791), “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” (Unites States Senate, 1789). Through its symbolic role within American culture, it seems that gun control is conflicting with the many elements of American culture. Some individuals acquire firearms to have a sense of satisfaction. Some individual influences others to have a desire to acquire one as well.

Out of the theories presented, the symbolic interactionism theory view is the best explanation for why people are either for or against gun control. Gun control is a personal issue and viewed as a micro-sociological perspective which outlined these basic premises: humans interact with things based on meanings ascribed to those things; the ascribed meaning of things comes from our interactions with others and society, the meanings of things are interpreted by a person when dealing with things in specific circumstances (OpenStax, Introduction to Sociology 2e, p. 18) Individuals reacts to things based on what they mean to themselves, and how the situation affects them directly. Individuals act toward or have feelings about things based on the meaning those things have for them. These meanings are derived from social interaction and this experience would most likely to lead to an individual to be either for or against gun control.

Firearms have been part of American tradition as protection and means of hunting or sport. The use of guns changed significantly over the years. The issue of gun control is on many levels of sociological problem. The attempts to reduce or eliminate violence and mass shootings would be expected to be most effective if they have the coordination of many pieces in the society such as policymakers, teachers, social workers, and others. Gun control efforts continue to present challenges. Preventing violence by using mental health records is more complicated than many realize. Stricter gun laws, gun control, and addressing people with mental and emotional problems.

The debate over the meaning of the Second Amendment will never be resolved. Guns have such a symbol that is difficult to link between two sides. Gun control opponents argue that guns are the symbol of individual freedom and patriotism, and fundamental personal rights. Although many people feel that gun control violates the right of the people, given the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms. On the gun control advocate side, gun ownership is unsafe for just everyone to have.

Gun can be used as a tool and for recreation but can also be lethal. Policymakers fail to realize that gun regulation is also equally American as gun ownership. Gun regulation can serve the common good, rather than gun rights through my interpretation of the Second Amendment in relation with violence and guns and exploring perspectives on gun control policies. Guns affect everyone in some way, guns can be a weapon of self-defense in the right hands, but an instrument of mass destruction in the wrong hands. Since the number of public mass shootings has increased in the last decades, the government should pass laws geared towards preventing these tragic incidents to restore public confidence and avoid future catastrophes.

In conclusion, guns are used to maintain strength and order in society. Gun laws create social control and represent security, but it also represents threat and violence. The NRA has the power and resources to fight against gun control legislation. The battle between the powerless individuals and the privileged capitalists keeps weak in a disadvantage to facilitate change.  Equality is vital in applying gun laws to people. Gun reform proposals have always challenged the United States because of the Second Amendment to the constitution. The social movement on gun control must continue to fight and move forward to stop the mass shootings. This mass shootings issue is impacting all of us. We must challenge the legislators and to change the gun regulation. Clearly, the system in place is not working, the more mass shooting happened in recent years. People are dying from  mass shootings. A social solution will fix a social problem. Aside from having stricter background checks and mental health solutions, banning federal assault weapons or any  banning any semi or fully automatic weapons that cause mass destruction would be the best solution to the ongoing problem in the mass shooting. It is time to change the system, from the horrible shooting in Stoneman Douglas Highschool, Las Vegas Shooting, Orlando nightclub, Virginia Tech shooting, Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting, Sutherland Springs church shooting, Columbine High shooting, San Bernardino attack and more, who will be the next target? It could be you.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, November 27). National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics Reports, 66(No. 6). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/injury.htm
2. Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun. (n.d.). Challenging Policies & Challenging Injustice.
3. OpenStax, Introduction to Sociology 2e. OpenStax CNX. April 23, 2018, from h-ttp://cnx.org/contents/[email protected].
4. The Washington Post. (2018, 14 February). The Terrible Numbers that Grow with Each Mass Shooting. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/national/mass-shootings-in-america
5. Unites States Senate. (1789). Constitution of the United States. Amendment II (1791). Retrieved from https://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm
6. Wierzbicka, A., & Goddard, C. (2004). Cultural Scripts: What Are They and What are They Good For. Intercultural Pragmatics.