When it comes to gun ownership, background checks have become the norm. Since the Second Amendment protects the right of gun control and bear arms, gun control has been controversial with proponents and detractors. A background check ensures that people who are not allowed to own guns cannot acquire them.
In the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, there has been a lot of talk about gun control—and rightfully so. The United States of America has an extended history of violence, and it’s time to ensure our communities are safer. While most people support background checks for gun ownership, they’re not universally supported.
Advantages of Background Checks for Gun Ownership
- A background check can help you avoid trouble when purchasing a firearm or any other weapon by ensuring that all sales go through licensed dealers who have been vetted and approved by law enforcement agencies across the country. Licensed firearms dealers use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for checking criminal and mental health history of individuals seeking to purchase firearms. The NICS database is designed to identify individuals prohibited from owning firearms, including convicted felons, individuals committed against their will to a psychiatric institution, and individuals under a restraining order. By conducting personal background checks, gun dealers can ensure that guns are not sold to criminals.
- Background checks are effective in reducing gun violence. According to a study by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research, states with comprehensive background check systems has significantly lower rates of gun violence than states without such systems.
- Background checks are a crucial tool for preventing firearms sale to individuals prohibited from owning them. In 2019, the NICS system did more than 39 million background checks and stopped about 140,000 people from getting guns because they were not allowed to have them. A personal background check, background check for employment, and criminal background check, prevented firearms from getting into the hands of criminals, domestic violence victims, or mentally ill individuals.
- Background checks also protect law enforcement officers. A background check can ensure that individuals with firearms aren’t prohibited from owning them. It helps keep police officers safe and makes it less likely that they will get into a fight.
Conclusion:
Background checks are necessary to protect the safety and well-being of society and keep guns from getting into the wrong hands. Background checks reduce the deaths and injuries caused by guns, keep guns from getting into the wrong hands, and give gun owners peace of mind. As a responsible gun owner, it is imperative to understand background checks’ importance and support their continued use.