Building Layered Defenses to Reduce Illegal Gun Violence

The government and stakeholders in society must act within their span of control to eradicate excessive and illegal gun violence. It is not surprising that a majority of Americans “say gun violence is a very big problem in the country[,] . . . they expect the level of gun violence to increase[, and] . . . it is too easy to legally obtain a gun” in the United States. This Article tackles this politically charged issue and recommends specific strategies for the government and stakeholders in society to reduce unlawful firearm violence and its harmful effects. At the heart of the controversy surrounding gun control, as explored in Part II, lies the difficult balance of respecting individuals’ right to bear arms under the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and fulfilling the government’s duty to protect the public. Part III examines the existing legislation taken to remedy this situation such as extreme risk laws and laws requiring background checks for firearm purchases, as well as, their effectiveness. Recognizing the shortcomings of government efforts to reduce illegal gun violence and the limited ability of any single stakeholder to solve this significant problem alone, Part IV advocates for each stakeholder in society—from the government and media to those who sell, buy, own, possess, or manufacture firearms—to work on the necessary components within their span of control to build layered defenses that will be effective against those who desire to illegally kill themselves or others using firearms. Finally, Part V concludes that the government should enhance public safety by encouraging all stakeholders in society to act within their span of control to do their part to reduce illegal gun violence.