What studies reveal about gun ownership in the US

Running head: GUN OWNERSHIP
Gun Ownership
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1GUN OWNERSHIP
Abstract
Possession of firearms is a much debated issue over the world. The 2nd amendment of the US
constitution provides the citizens that right to own guns. The study explores the reason that
motivate people to own guns and their validity. The study finds that gun ownership increases
gun related violent incidents. In most of the cases, the reason for owing a gun is misplaced as
people attribute their motivation to fear, happiness, feeling of power and pleasure and self-
defense which are found to be immaterial for the desire to owning guns. The paper argues
that everybody should not have the right to own guns as guns are rarely used for the purpose
of self-defense, the most popular reason cited by people as their motivation for owning guns.
Studies show that the increase in the rate of mass shootings, domestic violence related deaths,
homicides and suicides are related to the increase in the sales of guns and the states that have
delaying laws have lesser percentage of gun related homicides. Research shows that gun
control can contribute to decrease in domestic abuse and disagreements becoming violent,
after all, countries that do not give permit to own guns have much lesser percentage of gun
related incidents. The study concludes that gun ownership should be limited to people
belonging to law and order and militia as they are responsible and trained individuals that can
ensure responsible use of firearms.
Keywords: firearms – guns – suicide – homicides – self-defense – motivation – mass
shootings – gun control laws – regulations – gun ownership – victimization.

2GUN OWNERSHIP
Possession of firearms is a much debated issue over the world and statistics show that
white Americans are more likely to support gun ownership laws than non-white counterparts
(Filindra, 2017). There are arguments that owning guns has increased the crime rate and
deaths all over United States while many believe that it is people’s right to own guns as it is a
right of US citizens by the 2nd amendment. The law states that people of the United States
have the right to bear arms as well armed militia is necessary to keep the country a free state.
There have been extensive research that have connected the increase in gun related crime and
death with the increase in gun ownership. While many support the owning of guns citing the
reason that it gives people the chance of self-defense, many argue that guns are rarely used
for self-defense, rather it increases the rates of gun related violence, homicides and suicides
(Chan, 2018). This paper explores the US gun law and the control measures that it employs.
Following that, the paper explores the motivations and reasons that people cite for owning
guns. Moreover, the psychological perspectives and behavioral perspective is also analyzed
in this paper. Finally, the study presents evidence regarding the rates of homicides, mass
shootings and suicides and its relation with gun ownership percentage.
Thesis Statement: everybody should not be able given the right to own guns as it related to
elevated percentage of gun related crimes and violence.
The right to bear arms in the United States, based on the 2nd amendment have often
been questioned. The specifications of the conditions for owning guns differ across the fifth
one states and each have their own laws regarding that. There are also a minimum standard of
firearm regulation which prohibits the convicted felons, illegal immigrants and people
suffering from mental health issues cannot own firearms (Christodoulou & Cambridge,
2019). Moreover, the sellers of the firearms need to carry out background checks about any
previous criminal history or pending cases for buyers against the database of the FBI. There

3GUN OWNERSHIP
are also different laws in different states also vary as to the kind of weapon one is allowed to
carry and own.
According to most people, owning a gun is about defending own self and the people
that they love. There are situations that people might face when that need to protect their lives
or the people that they share their lives with. Mainly, situations where the perpetrator of
crime owns firearms and the other person has no means of defending himself or his people
(Hsiao, 2019). In such situations, owning a gun and being able to use it becomes crucial.
America is a state where more than half the population owns guns and sometimes, one person
owns multiple numbers. There have also been claims that the increasing number of firearm
related homicides are directly related to the people’ right to own guns.
According to Stroebe, Leander and Kruglanski (2017), Americans are the world’s best
armed people as Americans alone own around 300 million guns. When asked or surveyed, the
greatest motivation for Americans to buy guns seem to be protection or self-defense and more
than 60% people agree with that. The study delves into the psychological aspect of gun
ownership. The study finds that the main reason that people are willing to own a gun is a
sense of perceived risks or the reverse thought that they might be vulnerable in crisis
situations as it is highly probable that the other person will own a gun. In this point of view,
all people should have the right to own a gun as there is no reason to prohibit somebody when
most of the people in the state does and people not owning the guns are truly vulnerable
(Vanek, 2017).
As per Dowd-Arrow, Hill and Burdette (2019), on the other hand, there is little to no
relationship between gun ownership and fear or perceived risk. The research finds that the
people who own guns were least fearful and had lower levels of phobias or victimization
fears. The symptom perspective theory explains the motivation of owning a gun as fear of