Public policy: Call for Gun Control Laws and Programs
Dr. Deborah S. LeBlanc

Abstract
The author utilized a descriptive research approach of identifying and collecting findings for call for stricter gun control laws and programs. The author conducted an extensive literature review to ascertain current developments and efforts to curb gun safety laws since 2015 to 2019. The United States also has the highest homicide-by-firearm rate among the world’s most developed nations. But many gun rights proponents say these statistics do not indicate causal relationship. As of 2019, there were no federal laws banning semiautomatic assault weapons, military-style .50 caliber rifles, handguns, or large-capacity magazines. Violence is becoming a global problem. The increase in gun/gang violence has not been limited to the US. Like Canada, Britain, especially in South London, has also experienced a spate of firearm homicides that have been attributed to conflicts among gangs and groups of youth involved in the illegal narcotics market. After a decade long decline, gun violence is increasing in many cities in the United States. Much of this increase is being attributed to the revitalization of urban street gangs. Even in Los Angeles, where overall levels of violence continue to fall, gang violence is once again rising. Significant findings emerged from both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies confirmed the correlation between gangs and gun violence. A critical component to public safety -- including the prevention of further crime and violence -- is a successful transition for offenders into effective community-based and after care services; however, this prevention must be been in an effective and humane manner. It is time for American reform its gun control laws. Findings revealed that both the United States and Canada have ‘demonstrated that even after controlling for individual-level attributes gang members are more delinquent and commit more crime than do non-gang members (Esbensen and Huizinga 1993; Thornberry, Krohn, Lizotte, and Chard-Wierschem 1993; Huizinga 1997; Thornberry et al. 2003; Huff 2004; Gatti, Tremblay, Vitaro, and McDuff, 2005)’. The key point was the connectivity between violence and gangs. “The conclusion drawn most frequently from these findings is that the observed positive relationship between gang membership and offending levels cannot be explained through a simple process of self-selection, wherein only highly delinquent youth join gangs. Instead, there are additional influences that gang membership brings to bear in facilitating higher levels of offending among individuals who join. American needs more public policies and programs at gun control and gang intervention now.

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