Gun control refers to all set of policies and rules that govern the manufacture, sale, and possession of guns. Otherwise, Political science is a branch of social science that discusses the condition, politics, and government. It majorly deals with the political structures and both practical and theoretical applications to political behaviors and general political systems. Political science is a crucial aspect in understanding and depending on their knowledge of several most powerful forces controlling people, cooperation, and communities. The main branches of political science are public law, political theory, public administrations, and both internal and administrative rules. Theories of politics refer to a system of ideas in any political structure that tend to explain, support, and challenge specific beliefs. Gun control defines policies and laws that are us to govern the manufacturing, selling, and us of guns. Such factors include the weapon type to be available for sale to the public, the criteria of owning, when, and where to be used. Regions most affected by gun policies are developed countries such as the united states and the United Kingdom. Measures used to regulate gun ownership by civilians, which include assessment of personal properties, security status, and other vital needs that might require a firearm.
Theories of Politics
Theory of politic is a collection of all specific ideas which tend to explain specific political behaviors by supporting and providing necessary changes. Theories provide a meaningful systematic way of understanding the practices and events of people. Examples of political theories include absolute monarchy, agrarian socialism, and American exceptionalism. The study of political theories provides a broad concept of examining the political power of people. Political theories also act as a system that explains consequences associated with political issues, which include ownership of various properties and their usage.
Gun Ownership Policies
Gun ownership refers to the act of possessing a gun, which is regulated by a set of laws and regulations. Such restrictions by most nations on the purchase of firearms bring contradictions to whether gun ownership should be a privilege or a right to civilians (Spitzer, 2017). For instance, in America, gun control is among the most sensitive issues on which many bodies in charge remain deadlocked. Several factors determine the ability of someone owning a gun, and such factors vary slightly worldwide. Some of the main aspects are profession, financial status, and other special reasons, as stipulated by laws governing gun ownership (Jones & Stone, 2015). Statistics by Small Arms Survey done in the year 2018 reveals that over 1 billion small arms are in use globally, with over 70 percent being in civilian hands.
However, most governments do several evaluations on a citizen before granting them any firearm. Some of the considerations include the need, financial status, and exceptional cases. To own a gun, a citizen must ensure that they know the following things about gun usage: how to keep the weapon, expenses of owning, the reason why you need a gun and understand local laws (Squires, 2019). To ensure gun ownership is regulated, law enforcement agencies that operate both locally and internationally are mandated to oversee. United Nations Economic and Social Council is among the organizations that regulate laws governing civilian ownership of firearms. UN uses data stored from its research to impose regulations on its members.
Factor Determining Gun Ownership
Law enforcement agencies in any country or regions play a crucial role in ensuring firearms are granted to the right people and used appropriately. Some of the countries that have the strictest gun ownership laws are Singapore and United States. One of the countries with the highest number of gun owners, which is mainly attributed to the economic status of many citizens. Armed forces in the world are the sector that controls a more significant part of the total global firearm, which is approximately 45 percent.
Rate of Violence
Studies done by various research institutions show that homicide rates directly influence the high rate of gun ownership in many nations. However, gun ownership does not affect the level of killings. Regions and countries associated with high crime tend to have a high number of civilians owning firearms, aimed at ensuring personal security (Lafollette, 2018). High level of suicide and accidental killings are some of the factors which result from a high level of gun ownership. High rates of violent crimes contribute to illegal ownership of guns. Studies show that out of approximately 40 percent of the people who own guns, about 5 percent carry the firearms with them. Civilians with some level of mental disorders have low chances of owning a weapon since they are considered dangerous with firearms, though there are no proofs for this.
Research by UNICRI in the year 2001 shows a relationship between overall suicide and gun ownership at house level and overall killings with gender in 21 countries worldwide. The results, however, showed a lack of a clear link between any of the factors (Lafollette, 2018). The study could show a clear relationship if only two factors were considered, which is the level of killings and gun ownership in middle-income nations. The research indicates that a high level of violent crime is in middle and developing countries, which contributes to the misuse of firearms, hence influencing the level of gun ownership.
Economic Status
Economic level dramatically influences the level of gun ownership since properties in one of the factors that many nations consider relevant to grant any civilian a gun. Most developed countries are likely to have a higher number of civilians owning firearms, which is regarded as a form of security (Jones & Stone, 2015). Developing countries tend to have the strictest laws and regulations on firearms ownership because there are high chances of malicious use of firearms for self-interest.
Conclusion
In this discussion, the main focus is on gun control measures that affect the level of ownership worldwide. Several factors contribute to gun ownership, which, in return, has some effects on the social relationships among people. Factors that determine the level of gun ownership include economic status, security status, and political factors.
