Gun transaction in the US should go through a background check

This picture shows a small girl in the USA. Her mother took this photo because she thought it looked funny and was an odd thing to be doing. When the mother questioned her, the little girl explained that this is what they are taught to do if there is a gunman coming to kill them – in nursery. 

America and its guns are starting to become ridiculous. Shooting after shooting, hundreds killed and when this happens, the news tends to report the shooter was ‘mentally unstable’, ‘extremely depressed’ or ‘radicalised’. The most recent shooting in Florida at a gay nightclub by Omar Mateen saw the world look on in disgust as 49 people were shot dead and 53 seriously wounded, all because of sexual preference.

In 16 recent mass shootings (there have been 16 recent mass shootings, the majority of guns used were bought legally and with a criminal background check. Top marks for background checking, however the problem is at least eight of these gunmen’s checks returneda criminal past, or documented mental health problems! When something like this shows up on a background check, the right thing to do would be to refuse sale of the firearm, and report to the police that this person is trying to buy a weapon. But the US have different outlooks on this. The laws around buying guns are so lenient that even these background checks did not prevent the sale. That’s right, the US performed background checks on people attempting to buy extremely dangerous weapons, discovered they are either a criminal or have mental health issues, then continued with the transaction.

Buying from a licensed firearm store in the US does require you to go through a check on the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). This has prevented more than 2 million prohibited purchasers from buying guns to date. The effectiveness of these background checks is therefore very clear, and demonstrates how easily dangerous people can be kept from buying weapons with checks in place. Unfortunately licensed firearm dealers account for only 60% of sales of guns, meaning 40% of sales go through private dealers, and do so unchecked.

President Obama is endeavouring to put procedures in place to prevent this loophole, but whenever something like this begins to get traction, the NRA demonstrate, protest, scream, shout and stamp their feet about their right to protect themselves with having a huge gun in the house. Obama has stated that if they are a responsible gun owner then they have nothing to worry about, as all he wants is to put a screening process on 100% of gun sales as he has seen the value of it in licensed gun trade. But still, the NRA are all for anyone having a gun and schools and nightclubs getting shot up as long as they have a rifle to clean and look at from time to time.

Background screening checks have been so effective in licensed trade that it is nonsensical that people still stand up against it being applied to all gun sales. A simple background check can drastically reduce the risk of a gun falling into the hands of someone unstable, and this will of course reduce the number of mass shootings that the US have to experience. At CBS we understand how effective background screening can be, and we know the sorts of things that get flagged up to us and potential employers. Without question, and without hesitation, it is safe to say that the gun market in the US is inherently unsafe, and the fact it can be made safer with a screening process begs the question; ‘America, what is taking you so long?’.