A Detailed Analysis: The Gun Control Debate in School Safety

This essay examines the contentious issue of gun control in schools, spurred by tragic shootings in the United States. It delves into the arguments presented by both pro-gun and anti-gun control groups. Pro-gun advocates emphasize individual responsibility and mental health as key factors, suggesting that expanding gun ownership rights, particularly for trained staff, can enhance school safety. They argue that criminals will always find ways to obtain weapons, making it crucial for schools to be equipped for self-defense. Conversely, opponents of gun control highlight the correlation between the availability of guns and the incidence of gun violence, advocating for stricter gun ownership laws. They dispute the notion that mental illness is the primary cause of school shootings, citing statistics that indicate a relatively small percentage of mass shooters have diagnosed mental disorders. The essay concludes that the proliferation of guns is a significant factor in school shootings and calls for government action to reduce gun availability and enhance school security measures.

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Outline
Introduction
Pro-gun Control
a. People are Responsible
b. Mental illness
Opponents of Gun Control
a. Access to Guns
b. Evidence Against Mental Illness
Conclusion
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Instructor’s Name
Course
Date
Gun Control in Schools
The deadly shootings at some schools in the United States are spurring the debate on gun
control in schools. The recent shooting at a Florida high school has influenced the country to
make far-reaching proposals pertaining to the security of learners. The debate on whether
students should be permitted to have guns in schools or not is an important one as it is evident no
one wants to see young people perish as a result of misuse of guns (Ramer; McCowan). Pro-gun
groups hold that the weapons are not the problem and consider that the country should expand
gun ownership rights in schools. Opponents, however, say the number of violence involving
guns is directly proportional to the number of guns in the hands of the public and want strict gun
ownership laws enacted.
Pro-guns Americans hold that people are responsible for killing students in schools, not
guns. According to these individuals, guns are needed in schools as they are the right tools for
keeping the institutions safe. As such, they are calling for the expansion of gun rights to allow
teachers and other staff members to be armed to be able to protect themselves (Yu). Therefore,
they consider that people are always willing to break the law so denying schools the right to own
guns equal to putting them in the harm’s way.
Pro-gun Americans also contend that mental illness is to blame for the many school
shootings. The government, for example, after the Parkland shooting reported that the suspects
were mentally ill. According to psychologists, mental disorders can result in such unfortunate
acts (Merino 25). Poor health is, therefore, one of the possible causing of the shootings.

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Some individuals, especially the liberal ones, on the other hand, are of the view that
people are not to blame for the killings. They hold that school shootings are taking place because
almost everyone has direct access to a variety of weapons including guns as most states have
lenient gun regulations (Yu). The supporters of guns call for stringent laws and, therefore, blame
the government for failing to enact the right set of rules.
Additionally, they do not think that mental health is the primary cause of this menace.
They say that only 22 percent of these murderers have mental problems. Besides, courts have
only attributed one percent of homicides to insanity (Merino 5; Yu). Since a significant majority
of mass murders are healthy, liberals reject the assertion and blame lenient laws.
The gun control issue has turned, in part, to a political debate. The figures show, for
example, that mental illness is not a major cause of the problem. Some politicians, however, still
blame ill health for the problem. Most likely, that opinion is, therefore, influenced by political
motives. However, since there is a clear linkage between the numbers of guns in the hands of the
public and gun shootings in different areas, guns are liable for the problem. As such, the
government should enact rules to empower state agencies to offer adequate security to schools
and significantly reduce the number of guns in the hands of teachers and other members of staff.
Works Cited
McCowan, Candace. “School Shooting in Florida Reignites Gun Control Debate.” ABC30

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Fresno, 16 Feb. 2018, abc30.com/school-shooting-in-florida-reignites-gun-control-
debate/3096480/. Accessed 15 April 2018
Merino Noël. Gun Control. Greenhaven Press, 2013.
Ramer, Holly. “School Shooting Influences Debate on Gun Control Proposals.” U.S. News, 24
Feb. 2018, www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-hampshire/articles/2018-02-24/
school-shooting-influences-debate-on-gun-control-proposals.
Yu, Richard K. “The Debate on School Shootings in the United States.” A Mediam Corporation,
6 Mar. 2018, medium.com/age-of-awareness/the-debate-on-school-shootings-in-the-
united-states-1ca8254535.