University Celebrates Global Understanding Week
In conjunction with the Global Understanding Convention last week, Dr. Jennifer Shamrock, communication professor, gave a presentation on gun control in America titled “Fully Loaded” on April 10 at 2:30 pm with the assistance of Jose Aguilar and Rachel Fisher, University students.
Shamrock provided the audience with the most recent gun violence information for the United States. “Students should realize the enormity of the problem of gun violence in America and that they can take a stand in changing our culture through their actions,” said Shamrock.
“I liked that it was a presentation about real facts, things that are happening today and stories that we can all relate to,” said Fisher.
The presentation discussed five truths about guns today that many people are unaware of. The five truths are: 1) a gun inside of a home increases homicide, suicide and accidental deaths, 2) many children today are currently living in homes with loaded and unlocked guns, 3) violence is more severe when a gun is used opposed to other weapons, 4) gun laws should be more strictly enforced in America due to the many loopholes that allow people to purchase guns without a background check and 5) enforcing safety laws in America will reduce violence throughout the country.
The United States has the highest gun ownership rate in the world at 88 guns per 100 people according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Small Arms Survey, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Small Arms Survey. Areas that hold the highest firearm murder rates include Honduras, El Salvador and Jamaica.
The presentation discussed the recent tragedies in America as a result of gun violence. In response to these shootings, gun purchases have actually increased. A FOX News clip shown concluded that just in the month of November 2012, American citizens tried to buy 2 million guns. FOX revealed that there are more gun stores in America than there are gas stations or grocery stores. As of December 2012, there were 51,000 gun stores, 37,000 grocery stores, 14,000 McDonalds and 13,000 Starbucks in the US.
In the eleven years following the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, a total of 32,108 children and teens died in gun homicides, suicides and accidents, according to the Children Defense Fund. Shamrock said, “This is like 117 classes filled with 25 children dying every year for eleven years.”
Each of the five gun truths described during the presentation used relevant facts and true stories to provide the audience with a clear understanding of gun violence in America. The first gun truth explained the increase in risk of homicide, suicide and accidental deaths among families when a gun is in the home. “Having a gun in your home doesn’t make you safer,” said Shamrock. “A gun in the home makes the likelihood of homicide three times higher suicide three to five times higher, and accidental death four times higher.”
The second truth discussed the many children living in homes with loaded and unlocked guns. “Twenty-two percent of children with gun-owning parents handled guns in their homes without their parent’s knowledge,” said Shamrock. “More than half of youths who committed suicide with a gun obtained the gun from their home, usually a parent’s gun.”
An example used during the presentation is the recent shooting of a six-year-old boy named Brandon who was murdered on April 9 in Toms River by his four-year-old neighbor. Brandon was killed from the shot of a .22 caliber rifle that belonged to the four-year-old’s parents. Shamrock explained that we must be aware of where children are playing and the homes they are entering.
The third truth explained how guns create more deadly violence as opposed to other weapons used. Shamrock explained that guns make killing easier and more efficient opposed to other weapons. An estimated 41 percent of gun-related homicides and 94 percent of gun-related suicides would not have occurred if no guns were present.
The fourth truth explained that better enforcement of gun safety laws is necessary although the gun issues will still not be solved due to loop holes in gun purchasing laws. There are many ways that people can purchase guns without completing a background check; examples are gun shows and online gun purchasing.
A video was shown from a New York City investigation revealing private gun salesmen selling guns without completing a background check. Gun shows are held every weekend throughout America. The federal law states that licensed gun stores require background checks, although private unlicensed sellers do not have to complete background checks. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 30 percent of illegally trafficked guns are connected to gun shows.
The video explained that the federal law also states that if the private seller has reason to believe that the buyer will not pass a background check, it is illegal to complete the sale. During the investigation, the investigators told the gun salesmen that they probably wouldn’t pass a background check therefore they were happy that they weren’t necessary. The investigators found that 19 out of 30 gun distributors sold guns even though the buyer told them they would not be able to pass the background check. “The gun show loophole needs to be fixed, it shouldn’t take a tragedy to motivate the public,” said Fisher.
The true story of Elvin Daniel and the death of his sister Dina was shown as a public service announcement from demandaction.org during the presentation. “She had a restraining order against him and it was in the system that he was not allowed to purchase firearms. He went to an online dealer and bought a gun, shot her and 7 other people,” said Fisher. “If the seller completed a background check, that incident could’ve been avoided.” This is just one example of a gun purchase completed without a background check in America.
Shamrock explained that when the background check systems work properly, guns are kept out of the hands of violent offenders. Background checks began in 1998 when the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NCIS) was able to block more than 2 million attempted gun sales to prohibited purchasers.
The final truth explained that increased gun safety laws will reduce gun violence in America. Safety laws will protect the legal use of guns and lower the deaths, homicides, suicides and other gun related violence in America.
The presentation was concluded as Fisher and Aguilar remembered the 26 lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary school as a result of a mass shooting this past December 14. The students read the biographies of each of the children during the shooting.
Diego Alesssandro, student, played the guitar while Fisher and Aguilar spoke about the December 14 shooting in Connecticut.
