LOWERING GUN VIOLENCE By Jesse Barajas GUN CONTROL

LOWERING GUN VIOLENCE By Jesse Barajas

GUN CONTROL • A hot topic in political debates is gun control • The main reason for this is violence involving guns

WAYS TO HELP LOWER VIOLENCE INVOLVING GUNS • A solution that was created by scientists and engineers is to find a way to manufacture “safe guns” that have electronic components embedded within them • Some have suggested the use of ballistic fingerprinting • Getting help for those that have mental problems that could lead to violence • Keeping children educated about safety and making sure that children that are troubled receive the help they need

A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH • The creation of safe guns could make guns themselves safer • Proposed safety measures: Requiring a voice command to disable the safety • Using biometrics to allow the gun to only fire when being held by the owner its registered to • Having a transponder that would allow it to be located if stolen • Having a sensor that would be able to detect if its user has consumed alcohol

BALLISTIC FINGERPRINTING • A ballistic fingerprint is the set of marks that are left in a bullet upon being fired • Every gun has a unique finger print just like humans

A PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH • While the majority of violent gun crimes don’t involve the mentally ill many do • The most common illnesses that can lead someone to act out this way are schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, and depression • Recognizing signs of the illnesses and seeking help for these people is the eassiest way to avoid violence.

THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 • Many violent shootings are carried out by those under the age of 18 • Easiest way to prevent this is to be a responsible gun owner and keep guns unloaded and safely stored • Another solution is to simply look out for warning signs in children and seek help for them

CONCLUSIONS • Many Americans love to own guns and would fight to keep the 2 nd amendment alive • Many Americans also appose gun ownership however it could be quite costly for the government to simply take them all away • Safety needs to be a priority however those who legally purchase firearms must take all necessary precautions

The end

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