Utilitarian ethics and gun violence: CDC analysis of public health costs

ECONOMICS of GUN VIOLENCE

Ethical Analysis and CDC

Utilitarianism Theory and CDC

The Founding fathers of the U.S. were of the belief that keeping arms was important for the dignity and character of the free people and they wrote the 2nd amendment whose last line read that it is the right of the civilians to keep arms and that right shall not be infringed. The rights written in the Bill of Rights does not grant them the rights but they are the fundamental rights given to the Americans by the Founding Fathers which define the citizens of America as independent and free people7.

Gun Control presents a different meaning for different organizations and many sides have fought for and against it for years. The government through the phrase 'gun control' means limiting the rights of the arm bearers in order to reduce crimes related to guns. The CDC uses utilitarianism theory which states that although it is legal to keep arms, it is however not ethical because it causes a lot of health problems for the individuals who go through the violent acts performed by the guns. The utilitarian ethics are not consistent with the individual rights of the people because according to Kant's moral philosophy, the acts of the individual depends on him only and he solely is to be blamed for them. CDC uses this ethical theory because they state that every person has the right to life and giving the people an opportunity to bear arms is similar to giving them power which they can abuse

Gun violence is a problem that most Americans are aware of today. Statistics indicate that in the past ten years three quarters of a million Americans sustained injuries from gun violence. Some of these such as Jennifer Longdon received life altering injuries that left them paralyzed and unable to resume their normative lives. These however are the ones who lived. In the same period over a quarter of a million lives were lost as a result of gunshot wounds. These are not just adult deaths as even children at home have been reported to either shoot themselves or their siblings accidentally when handling firearms at home. Interestingly, violence emanating from crime has been reducing even as gun related deaths rise[footnoteRef:2]. [2: Follman et al., "Gun Violence Costs America $229 Billion a Year -- more than $700 for Every Man, Woman, and Child."]

According to the Annals of Internal Medicine published on April 7, all of these deaths from guns whether accidental or intentional, have resulted in a public health disaster. Follman et.al (2015) draw from a study done by one of their authors in 1998 which attempts to gauge the cost of mental trauma suffered by those who have experienced gun violence. This was based on the cost of treatment for those who chose to go for counseling after a gun violence episode. It concluded that over $400 million was spent annually on this. Interestingly no government studies on the same have been conducted to date.

This can be explained by efforts of the National Rifle Association to prevent this research by lobbying politicians to cut back CDC funds meant for research arguing that they were using them to push forward their agenda for gun control. This began in 1996 when research done Dr. Rivara who was funded by the CDC revealed that anyone bringing home a gun, increased the risk of homicide to three times to what it was before. This action by congress caused other researchers who were funded by the federal government to hold back their research in fear of the repercussions from same quarters[footnoteRef:3] . [3: "Congress Quietly Extends Ban On CDC Research On Gun Violence."]

Public health is also concerned with gun violence because of the high rate of suicides involving guns. In their History of Gun Violence[footnoteRef:4]published by the CDC in 2009, Dahlberg and Mercy give astonishing statistics of suicides rates tripling in the forty year period between 1950 and 1990. Teenage homicides were also reported to have rapidly increased from the mid-80s to early 90s. This was especially so for the African-American teenagers among whom the homicide rate went up by over 150%. [4: Dahlberg and Mercy, "History of Violence as a Public Health Problem."]

NRA and Feminist Issues

The fact that a gun poses more danger that benefits to any home it is in, is a fact that is widely known by Americans. The presence of a gun increases the risk of a fatal accident and even gives more options to the suicidal person. In homes where guns are kept, more people live in fear and intimidation, and women are more likely to be killed than where they are not present. There is little research to support the claim that the presence of a gun acts as a deterrent or that it lowers the risk of injury should there be a break-in into a home. Families are thus advised to keep guns away from the home.

When it comes to most homicides, women tend to get killed at home more than men. They are mostly killed by their relatives including their husbands. This holds true for children as well as mature citizens. The presence of a gun in the home thus raises the chances that a murder will occur in the home. It seems that in homes where violence occurred the attacks were made fatal by the presence of a gun. Guns present at home for protection often end up endangering the owners. Also for women who are victims of domestic violence, the violence was almost three times more likely to lead to death compared to homes without guns. It thus is clear that the presence of a gun in the home acts more like a catalyst to violence by providing one of the many options available to those inflicting violence.

ECONOMICS OF GUN VIOLENCE 5

Research has questioned the lack of study in the emerging fact that males make up most of the killers in mass shootings. It is more likely to find studies on shooters from a certain ethnic group such as Asians rather than studies researching why male shooters are so prevalent. It has been suggested that the reason why there are no studies on this phenomenon may be attributed to the efforts of feminists which have deemed them anti-men. Thus focusing on this area might elicit sentiments that it is just another feminist agenda. However it is of vital importance that the issue be researched as it seems that violence and gun violence comes more readily to men than it does women. This again is an assumption as there are no research findings to back the same. To assume that men are more adaptable to violence is essentially to put them in the same box as animals. Research may reveal that there are social or emotional influences that may lead to this phenomenon and not just a natural inclination to be violent. Researchers must thus focus on answering the question why (Anne, 2013)[footnoteRef:7]. [7: Libby, "The Intersection of Guns, Gender, and Violence."7 Kleck, "Guns and Violence: A Summary of the Field."8 Cavalier, "John Rawls"9 Garrett, "Rawls' Mature Theory of Social Justice."]

Reference List

Cagle, M. Christine, and J. Michael Martinez. "Have Gun, Will Travel: The Dispute Between the CDC and the NRA on Firearm Violence as a Public Health Problem." Faculty Publications, June 1, 2004. http://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/facpubs/2148.

Cavalier, Robert. John Rawls. Drury College, Accessed on 11th November, 2015. Retrieved from: http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/Cavalier/Forum/meta/background/Rawls.html

"Congress Quietly Extends Ban On CDC Research On Gun Violence." Accessed November 7, 2015. http://www.mintpressnews.com/congress-quietly-extends-ban-on-cdc-research-on-gun-violence/207237/.

Dahlberg, Linda L., and James A. Mercy. "History of Violence as a Public Health Problem." Virtual Mentor 11, no. 2 (February 1, 2009): 167. doi:10.1001/virtualmentor.2009.11.2.mhst1-0902.

Follman, Mark, Julia Lurie, Jaeah Lee, and James West. "Gun Violence Costs America $229 Billion a Year -- more than $700 for Every Man, Woman, and Child." Mother Jones. Accessed November 7, 2015. http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/04/true-cost-of-gun-violence-in-america.

Garrett, Jan. Rawls' Mature Theory of Social Justice. 24th August, 2005. Retrieved from: http://people.wku.edu/jan.garrett/ethics/matrawls.htm#pcj

Kleck, Gary. Guns and Violence: A Summary of the Field. School of Criminology and Justice, September, 1991. Retrieved from: http://www.catb.org/esr/guns/point-blank-summary.html

Libby, Anne. "The Intersection of Guns, Gender, and Violence." Love, Joy, Feminism, January 10, 2013. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/lovejoyfeminism/2013/01/the-intersection-of-guns-gender-and-violence.html.