Saturday, September 17, 2016

The End of Gun Violence: The Proposal
By Christian McCoy
As we are aware, gun violence is a major problem in the United States, and as citizens, it is our responsibility to take the necessary steps to solve this problem. If we, the citizens of America are seriously sincere about solving this problem that plagues our communities, it is imperative that we consider this issue with the utmost optimism. Thus, I will propose a valid, comprehensive strategy that will primarily end gun violence in our country.
Reasonably, we all can agree that from a fundamental psychological perspective, those of us who carry guns and desire to carry guns, mainly choose to do so because of their awareness of others who carry guns. Logically, if one is not concerned with being killed by another who possesses a firearm, one is not consciously concerned with owning a firearm.  Moreover, it is undoubtedly the responsibility of governing authorities/law enforcement as practitioners of the rule of law, to unequivocally lead by example in implementing necessary strategies to not only mitigate, but eliminate crime—particularly violence caused by individuals with guns. Thus, the strategy which I will propose here, requires governing authorities/law enforcement to, in fact, lead by example, resulting in an outcome that has been sought after for generations—the end of gun violence within our nation.
My proposal is simple, and it begins with eliminating the need for local law enforcement officers to carry firearms. To my knowledge, it is never the intention of a local law enforcement officer to kill a perpetrator/suspect unless it is absolutely necessary. If that is a fact, it is, therefore, unnecessary for them to be armed with guns, which so often kill individuals "unintentionally". What I propose is that the protocol for local law enforcement officers to routinely carry firearms be discontinued under the conditions which I will elaborately express in the upcoming paragraphs of this proposal.
The next aspect of my proposal—which actually must be implemented first—requires a national search and seizure of firearms. Local and federal law enforcement agencies must collectively conduct a nationwide operation that will confiscate all licensed and unlicensed firearms from every existing household, vehicle and established place of business, etcetera. No individuals submitting unlicensed guns will be apprehended unless the gun is found to be evidence related to a criminal investigation. Additionally, during this operation, as local law enforcement officers will continue carrying their firearms as usual, there must also be a thorough and precise system and/or technological mechanism used to detect any firearms or weapons of mass destruction that may be concealed. Consequently, once the law enforcement agencies have officially announced that the nationwide operation has been fully completed, local law enforcement officers will be required to turn in their duty weapons, and there will be an annual search and seizure of the same kind, thereafter, conducted in the same manner.
As this strategy must be procedural, the initial aspect of the procedure will be to announce and make it clearly known that "local law enforcement officers will no longer be armed with guns, after a nationwide search and seizure operation has been conducted". A specific date for the initiation of the search and seizure operation will be provided and the message will be conveyed via every available media arm, direct mail, email, and even phone calls. Additionally, governing authorities/law enforcement will be obligated to directly alert every household and business owner in their community, district, or jurisdiction. Personally, I expect this initial aspect of my strategy to affect reasonable people to the extent that they will not even entertain the idea of rebelling and trying to find ways to conceal their firearms or any weapons of mass destruction; however, if they are not convinced to comply, I project that the knowledge of the consequences for noncompliance will convince them.
The nation's new gun laws will take effect on the first day of the national search and seizure operation. Thus, because citizens will have been given fair and reasonable warning, individuals will be prosecuted for the seizure of any firearms or weapons of mass destruction that are not directly submitted. Moreover, the illegal possession of firearms or any weapons of mass destruction will be considered a federal violation, and will be punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years in prison. Thereafter, any crimes committed with firearms will also be considered a violation of federal law, and will be punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of fifty years in prison.
This new federal legislation will not only prohibit civilians from possessing firearms and limit the use of guns by local law enforcement officers, but it will reasonably limit the use of firearms in the United States to the absolute necessary option. For example, only certain government personnel will be authorized to carry firearms, the likes of which include officers patrolling our borders, military personnel who are actively serving, and federal agents. Local law enforcement officers will only be armed with the most efficient and effective pepper spray, tasers and other useful weapons that will allow them to simply disable perpetrators/suspects in order to apprehend. Local law enforcement will only be permitted to carry firearms in the line of duty when it is reasonably suspected or determined that an individual or group of people are armed with guns or weapons of mass destruction. Additionally, this new legislation will require an establishment of nationwide rifle harboring locations for the purpose of renting rifles to hunters during hunting season. Finally, to accomplish the goal of enacting this type of legislation, our government will be required to take a huge step for the sake of saving the communities of America—we must discontinue our Constitutional 2nd Amendment right, which allows American citizens to bare arms.
Furthermore, as I, Christian McCoy am a political science and government major who is currently unable to complete the final academic year of my degree program because of financial hardships, I humbly pray that you, the legislative authority of these United States, thoroughly consider my attempt to contribute to this country in a way that I have dreamed of for some time now. This is an attempt to solve a problem that has negatively affected America for generations, and in this day and age, with the exceptionalism that lies within our borders we must act now. Please do not hesitate to explore the concept and possible desired outcome my proposal presents. We can undoubtedly end gun violence in America.
To show your support for the above proposal please CLICK the link below.