Position Statement.. ["In response to the current U.S. gun violence public health crisis, society [does]/ [does not], acting through the government, has sufficient legal and/or ethical authority to limit an individual's gun rights under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution."] 2. Facts. [Provide a succinct summary of relevant facts, specifically the facts pertaining to gun violence and healthcare costs in the U.S. (e.g., number of guns in circulation, number of gun-related incidents, resulting healthcare and other costs). Use your course textbook or other sources, ensure you include both sides, and always ask yourself, if I were new to this issue what basic facts would I want/need to know? Always assume your intended reader has no prior knowledge of the issue and it is your job to briefly summarize what they need to know to make an intelligent decision and (hopefully) agree with and support your position. 3. Analysis Legal Issue(s) Analysis. [Identify and address all relevant and applicable Constitutional, statutory laws, and reported cases that support that your policy position and why. Also identify and address all relevant and applicable Constitutional, statutory laws, and reported cases that do not support or are contrary to your position and explain why and how they could or should be interpreted or changed to address the current gun-related healthcare crisis and comport with your position.

Ethical Issue(s) ( using three universal values of the ethical decision making process ( personal autonomy, beneficence, compassion, fairness, equality of opportunity, human dignity, individual responsibility, justice, non- malfeasance, truthfulness) one ethical decision-making model (the rights model, utility model, exceptions model, the choices model, the common good model, the social media model, the virtue model, and the justice model)

4. Conclusions

5. Recommendations

Reference:

In the United States, on average guns kill almost 30,000 people and cause 60,000 injuries each year and gun violence remains its leading cause of premature death.

In your readings, you learned of controversial policies and strategies to address gun violence in the U.S. For example, many cities have attempted a community approach of "gun buy-back" programs. Hartford, CT, reported that even though 464 firearms were collected over a four-year period, only a small percentage of firearms were collected compared to the number of firearms sold.

It has become evident that there needs to be a comprehensive public health approach to address this growing crisis. The issue of gun violence is even more exacerbated, and complex given the increase in acts of terrorism. Federal, state, and local governments are restricted from banning or unreasonably limiting the right of Americans to own guns by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The courts, however, have long held that this right is not absolute but subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. The issue then becomes what constitutes "reasonable" restrictions compatible with Constitutional protections and otherwise acceptable to the American public, federal and state legislatures, and, most importantly, the reviewing courts. This causes a tension in the protection of individual gun ownership rights and societal rights to ensure public health. We see this tension played out in our communities where there are both "zero tolerance" restrictions for firearms and weapons in public schools, in public buildings, and on airplanes while at the same time tolerance for gun possession at home and, in some areas, authorized open carry, including public university school campuses.

As noted in your readings, there appears to be a change in attitude towards increased gun control. For example, to reduce violence and save lives, New York City had adopted a "Stop, Question, and Frisk" policy that authorized police officers to stop and question a pedestrian and frisk for weapons and other contraband. However, on August 12, 2013, a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that the stop and frisk practice (not the law itself) was unconstitutional and directed NYC to adopt a written policy to reduce impermissible discriminatory police officer discretion. This illustrates the "checks and balances" of our political and legal systems and the inherent difficulty of trying to impose restrictions on a fundamental Constitutional right. So, while Second Amendment ownership rights are subject to "reasonable" time, place, and manner restrictions, the issues become what is reasonable and who decides? This is your task for this assignment?

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Position Statement In response to the current US gun violence public health crisis society does acting through the government have sufficient legal and ethical authority to limit an individuals gun ri... View the full answer