Background Information
Gun violence remains a pervasive challenge in the United States and policies on gun control is at the forefront of US politics. It’s an epidemic that distinguishes the US from the rest of the industrialized countries. However, there exist contrasting policy approaches with some states pushing for reduced regulations of access to ammunition while other states pursuing regulations that decrease the ease of access to ammunition. Moreover, the majority of the laws on firearm regulations are enacted by the state governments with the federal government enacted comparatively lesser regulations. The foundation of addressing the gun violence challenge is understanding the nature of the challenge. Firearm violence can mainly be categorized into three; homicide; suicide and unintentional firearm deaths. An analysis of firearm homicide, the policy brief by Rockefeller Institute of Government reports an average of 5.2 gun homicides per 100,000 in all US states and a high of 12.7 gun homicides per 100,000 (Siegel & Boine, 2019). According to the policy brief, California records a 4.2 gun homicides per 100,000 people. The policy brief notes that even though mass public shooting is the least incidence under the homicide category and accounting to 0.1% of the firearm-related deaths, the increasing prevalence reignited the intense policy attention and public debate on the regulation of firearm. Moreover, the increasing, radicalization, violent extremism and terrorism in the US increases the need for addressing the ease of access to firearms

The latest tragic shooting at San Diego California synagogue on the eve of Passover by a 19-year-old college student that left one person dead and three wounded retaliates the pervasiveness of gun violence. The teenager is also suspected of setting fire a California Islamic mosque as a retaliation to the New Zealand mosque terror attacks. Given that the current law requires a gun purchaser to be at least 21 years, the possession of AR-15-style rifle by the 19-year-old attack indicates illegal possession of firearm. In August 2018 a shooting in a bar in Thousands Oak California left 12 people dead while another attack at Parkland, Florida, high school on Valentine's day 2018 resulted to the death of 17 students and one staff. Other deadly mass shooting recorded in the US includes the 2017 Las Vegas shooting in 2017 that claimed the life of 58 people, 2016 in Orlando, Florida attack in the club that resulted to 49 deaths, 2012 Sandy Hook shooting that claimed lives of 26 people ( 6 instructors and 20 elementary students) among others.

California accounts as one of the states with strict gun policy and stringently enforced laws earning an A in the annual gun law scorecard by the Gifford’s Law Center. It’s the first state in the US to enact a nation to enact a Gun Violence Restraining Order law in 2014 that enabled confiscation of firearm from owners considered as risk to public safety. The state as well passed into law the Safety for All Act of 2016 that mandates a point-of-sale background check for all ammunition purchases. The state limits the number...…content. As well as financially supporting projects by civil society such as the NGO oriented Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) project is another strategy of engaging in preventing radicalization that fuels violent crimes.

Mainstream Media Sensationalism

Mainstream media is an influencer of public understanding and attitude towards violence. Media sensationalism that is constructed to selectively report incidences with limited censorship has been faulted for creating moral panic in times of attacks. Irresponsible reporting has been identified to glamorizing violence by over publicizing the crimes. Extremist violence thrives on publicity as terrorism relies on brainwashing people due to ignorance. As the media capitalizes on the natural curiosity for details following a tragedy, they disseminate information that satisfies the desire of the mass violence perpetrators while on the other hand remains disrespectful to the victims of an attack. It’s not uncommon to find the mainstream media providing unwarranted attention to mass firearm violence. Engaging the mainstream media and engendering the significance of moral obligation in reporting and retreat from sensational extremist news is imperative.

Communities are shaped by the actions, attitudes, and behaviors of policymakers and communities. They, therefore, form the fundamental group in addressing the gun violence that remains a menace in the US. Addressing the challenge entails a mix of multifaceted strategies that simultaneously address access to the firearm as well as containing the motivation for violence. Undeniably, firearm violence, violent extremism, and radicalization are challenges that require a multidimensional approach to keep California state and the US at large at peace.

References

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