Gun ownership and crime rates in Virginia

Gun Control vs. Crime Rate

Gun ownership in Virginia and the effects it has on crime rates

There is much controversy regarding gun laws and the effects that they have on crime levels, as many are inclined to believe that they reduce the number of gun-related offences while others believe that they actually amplify the chances of a person being shot. American culture has come to be a gun culture, considering that guns are present in a series of environments related to American traditionalism. The mass media constantly bombards the masses with gun stories and vivid images displaying guns as being an active part of society. The Constitution of Virginia is focused on protecting people's rights to bear arms and it prevents the government from taking away this right.

U.S. background

The Second Amendment legalized gun ownership and it practically made it possible for people to be in possession of particular types of guns without being penalized by the authorities for this. One of the primary reasons for this law is the fact that militias need to have access to firearms in order to be able to function correctly in extreme circumstances. This matter is actually divisive, taking into account that many civilians have trouble understanding whether guns are meant to be carried for their personal protection or if they are meant to be carried with the purpose of putting them to use in case of a militia gathering.

People across the U.S. are obsessed with guns and this is perfectly reflected by the fact that shooting occur on a frequent basis: bad guys shoot innocent victims, shoot each other, and children are addicted to playing shooting computer games and with firing toy guns. Despite this, most people have little to no experience in using a gun or in seeing a gun being used. "Even the vast majority of police officers have never exchanged shots with a suspect" (Lott xiii). However, it is likely for most people to know someone who was the victim of a shooting or who was robbed by an armed individual. This means that guns are closer than one might be inclined to believe that that society needs to acknowledge that they represent a serious threat.

Statistics is an important concept when regarding gun-related crimes and most are probable to acknowledge that crime stories are often told in statistical terms. Even with this, these stories are also told by using real-life ideas and this makes it possible for the masses to gain a more complex understanding of the risks related to simply living in a society where gun laws are not very strict. "The number of firearms in the United States is estimated at between 200 and 230 million, and it continues to increase each year" (Wilson 3).

"Guns don't kill people, people kill people"

It is surely surprising that even though most people have never fired a gun and some have never even seen a gun from a first-person perspective and the masses are nonetheless inclined to have opinions regarding gun control strategies. These people are generally inclined to believe that the U.S. needs tougher laws meant to control gun use and ownership. However, they need to understand that "others see guns as objects that can be used recreationally in target shooting or hunting, to help provide a sense of accomplishment, and as a means of connecting with their heritage" (Wilson 3). Some need guns in order to protect themselves and their property while others simply like to collect weapons as a hobby.

Many believe that gun control is not a real criminal justice issue and that there are topics that need to be provided with a more significant amount of attention. These people generally believe that gun ownership is not necessarily an important problem and that crime rates have nothing to do with the number of individuals owning firearms. While it is intriguing to consider this point-of-view, it is difficult and almost impossible to understand the exact relationship between gun ownership and firearm-related crimes.

Cases of criminals taking advantage of gun laws

The Virginia Tech Massacre is probably one of the bloodiest events that the state came to be known for. The shootings occurred in the morning of April 16, 2007, and saw 33 people being killed while 17 were wounded. Seung-hui Cho was twenty years old at the time when the shootings took place and is considered responsible for the deadliest mass killing in the history of the United States. Consequent to shooting 173 rounds, Cho shot himself in the head just as the police entered the building.

A Glock 19 (9mm) handgun and a Walther P22 (.22) handgun, both semiautomatic weapons, were used in the shootings. "Cho purchased the Walther first by ordering online and picking up the pistol on February 9, 2007, at J-N-D Pawnbrokers in Blacksburg. On March 13, he purchased the Glock 19 at Roanoke Firearms in Roanoke, about 30 miles from Virginia Tech campus" (Lee Carter). It is surprising to consider that both firearm dealers performed a background check before providing Cho with the weapons and determined that it was legal for him to purchase a gun. This proves that the background check system is faulty, taking into account that the student was deemed a danger to himself in a court of law. It appears that background checks fail to take into consideration particular concepts and that mentally ill individuals might be provided with the right to carry a firearm as long as they meet a basic set of requirements.

One can practically consider that Cho managed to work around laws that would have prevented him from acquiring the guns and managed to come in possession of two handguns in spite of the fact that his background should have prevented dealers from working with him. The purchases were separated by a 30-day period and thus did not act in disagreement with the state's "one handgun per month" legislation. Cho was very clever in planning the shootings and he initially chose to kill Emily Hilscher, a girl who he knew had a boyfriend who was fond of guns. Cho realized that police officers would first have the tendency to search for her boyfriend instead of considering another suspect. This also played an important role in making it impossible for the authorities to trigger an alarm throughout the Virginia Tech campus.

The authorities in Virginia accepted the gun ownership control system's faults and focused on introducing new regulations that would make it possible for firearm dealers to detect potential buyers who should not be allowed to own a weapon. Moreover, numerous individuals expressed significant interest in having the government prohibit the sale of weapons at gun shows, even with the fact that Cho did not purchase the firearms from such an exhibition.

Although one of the reasons for which the Virginia Tech shootings were made possible is the fact that the gun ownership system was faulty at the time when Cho bought the pistols, it would be irresponsible for someone to claim that the nonrestrictive gun laws in the state are one of the motives for which Cho was enabled to act. The authorities are actually responsible for providing Cho with the opportunity to buy the two pistols, considering that they failed to realize that it was important for a background check to be more complex and to involve a series of other factors such as a person's experience in dealing with psychiatric facilities.

Gun control nationwide in regard to Virginia The contemporary political class seems reluctant to acknowledge that gun control needs to be addressed more thoroughly. Gun violence exists and it is essential for the authorities to realize that the matter is more serious than some might be inclined to think. Even with this, it is difficult and almost impossible for someone to claim that gun ownership in Virginia needs to be addressed and that lesser people should be provided with the opportunity to own guns. The masses need to understand that gun ownership is not a right that gun owners take lightly, as they perfectly comprehend the fact that the state trusts them with a great responsibility and that they have to do everything in their power in order to make sure that this responsibility is properly acknowledged.

The state of Virginia has experienced a steady drop in crime rates during the last seven years. This is curious when considering that gun ownership control laws did not change significantly and that criminals have wide access to firearms in the territory. This makes it possible for individuals to accept that gun laws are not necessarily weak and that they do not favor criminals. Moreover, experts expect this year's report to show that crime rates have fallen even more.

The following table actually demonstrates that conditions are not as critical as someone might be inclined to believe when considering gun control laws in Virginia and the effects that they have on crime rates.

Forcible Aggravated Larceny Vehicle

(Virginia Crime Rates 1960 -- 2011)

Works cited:

Blank, Jeremy D., "Guns Vs. Crime," Retrieved November 22, 2012, from the American Partisan Website: http://www.american-partisan.com/cols/blanks/081400.htm

Lee Carter, Greg, "Guns in American Society," (ABC-CLIO, 04.05.2012)

Lott, John R., "More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun-Control Laws," (University of Chicago Press, 15.06.2000)

Wilson, Harry L., "Guns, Gun Control, And Elections: The Politics And Policy of Firearms," (Rowman & Littlefield, 2007 )

"Documents on the First Congress Debate on Arms and Militia," Retrieved November 22, 2012, from the Constitution Website: http://constitution.org/mil/militia_debate_1789.htm

"Firearms / Concealed Handguns," Retrieved November 22, 2012, from the Virginia State Police Website: http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Firearms.shtm

"Machine Gun Registration," Retrieved November 22, 2012, from the Virginia State Police Website: http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Firearms_MachineGun.shtm

"Top Sources of Crime Guns in America," Retrieved November 22, 2012, from the Trace the Guns Website: http://www.tracetheguns.org/#/states/VA/exports/

"Virginia Crime Rates 1960 -- 2011," Retrieved November 22, 2012, from the Disaster Center Website: http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/vacrime.htm

"Virginia State Law Summary," Retreived November 22, 2012, from the Law Center to prevent Gun Violence website: http://smartgunlaws.org/virginia-state-law-summary/