Nursing Perspective on Intercity Gun Violence as a Community Health Problem Essay Example
Abstract
This plan focuses on the increasing prevalence of gun violence and the ease of obtaining firearms. Gun violence is examined as a community health issue from a nursing perspective.
Objectives
- Discussing the relationship between gun violence and urban environments.
- Exploring primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies to offer additional options for reducing gun violence.
- Emphasizing the importance of rebuilding infrastructure in fostering a strong and safe community.
- Analyzing the impact of Healthy People 2020, ANA Standards of Practice, National Patient Safety Goals, and WHO Millennium Goals on addressing the problem of gun violence.
Introduction
According to the Second Amendment of th US Constitution, American citizens have the right to keep and bear arms as it is necessary for national securi
...ty.
In 1791, the founding fathers of the United States included the right to bear arms in the Bill of Rights. However, they were referring to single-shot muskets with slow reload times and low accuracy. Nowadays, we have fully automatic assault weapons with extended magazines and laser sights. In his TED Talk titled "A Solution to Gun Violence Found in US History," gun safety advocate and military veteran David Farrell (2018) discusses how America can put an end to gun violence by acknowledging that two hundred years ago, guns were primarily used for hunting and sport.
The text underscores the significance of gun ownership in fostering camaraderie and engaging in outdoor pursuits. It asserts that Americans have deviated from perceiving rights as an anticipation rather than a privilege. The original intent of the founding fathers was to grant this right to possess arms in order to ensure safety and liberty. Nevertheless, contemporary times
witness gangs replacing militias while firearm possession often entails acquiring untraceable burner guns devoid of serial numbers. Numerous factors contribute to this predicament, including early exposure of urban youth to firearms, inadequate awareness regarding their hazards, loopholes within firearm regulations, apprehension about self-inflicted harm associated with owning guns, and society's overall perspective on firearms.
According to a study conducted at Wichita State University (Lewis et. al., 2015), multiple factors contribute to gun violence, such as a decline in parenting and family values, involvement in gangs, bullying, and the easy accessibility of firearms (para. 15). In a speech given by Rahm Emanuel, the Mayor of Chicago, at Malcolm X College on September 22, 2016 (Emanuel, 2016), he emphasized the urgency for action to address this pervasive problem. Emanuel (2016) firmly believes that gun violence is unacceptable and particularly reprehensible when innocent individuals lose their lives.
According to Kathleen Ahern Gould (2018), in the United States, 315 people are shot daily and, out of that total, 93 people die due to gun violence each day (Gould, 2018). Gun violence poses a community health issue as the availability and ease of taking a life have become excessive for the public. Additionally, external factors contribute to the problem, resulting in a rise in gun-related incidents. In every challenge we encounter, there are always obstacles hindering progress and achievement. These barriers arise from individuals and organizations prioritizing their own interests rather than those of others.
According to David Farrell, the NRA previously focused on promoting shooting and collaborating with the government to ensure the safety and regulation of firearms. However, the rise in crime during the 1970s and heightened fear led to gun
rights activists seizing control of the NRA from sportsmen in 1977. This resulted in a shift in the NRA's perspective on guns, narrowing their focus from sportsmen and hunters to all gun owners. Additionally, the NRA began employing marketing tactics such as creating advertisements and utilizing fear-inducing themes.
Farrell (2018) asserts that fear is employed to motivate individuals to buy firearms for self-defense. This connection stems from concerns about personal harm, prompting people to arm themselves. The fear of being attacked, robbed, or sexually assaulted inadvertently leads individuals to take measures and prepare physically in order to potentially take a life if necessary. Fear acts as the underlying force driving this occurrence, with Farrell (2018) maintaining that owning a gun out of fear does not foster a sense of security within a society deemed safe.
Community health nurses have a strong dedication to providing optimal care for their patients, who are the community. It is crucial to prioritize prevention in community health, especially when dealing with problems like gun violence, in order to safeguard the wellbeing of the community. Different forms of prevention play specific roles. Emanuel (2016) presents three strategies that can be implemented to tackle the problem of gun violence.
According to Emanuel (2016), three key aspects are crucial to address gun violence: Enforcement, Investment, and Prevention. These elements are interdependent. The AAN (2018) emphasizes the importance of healthcare professionals fulfilling their role in preventing firearm injuries through health screening, patient counseling, and referral to mental health services for individuals exhibiting high-risk behaviors. It is recognized by the AAN (2018) and other organizations that mere thoughts and prayers are insufficient in the face of pervasive gun
violence. Concrete steps must be taken. One primary prevention measure is the establishment of stricter gun laws and the launch of antigun and antiviolence campaigns. Additionally, a comprehensive system of background checks should be implemented and the future sale, importation, manufacture, or transfer of assault weapons ought to be banned ('Nursing Group Calls for National Action on Shootings', 2018).
The AAN (2018) recommends including a well-crafted definition of "semiautomatic assault weapon" to avoid the law being bypassed. Additionally, Emanuel (2016) suggests enhancing the number of police officers, equipping them with better training, and utilizing technology in the police force. According to Emanuel (2016), technology plays a vital role in tackling gun violence since it is impractical for an officer to be present at all street corners daily. The installation of cameras at key intersections and conflict-prone areas can assist officers in promptly and effectively responding to shootings.
Therefore, providing law enforcement with crucial evidence to aid in the identification and conviction of individuals responsible for the incident (Emanuel, 2016). In a report by Julien Gignac (2018) for the Toronto Star, he explores a new technology called ShotSpotter that aims to decrease gun violence. ShotSpotter, as stated by CEO Ralph Clark, is designed to accurately detect and locate shooting incidents in real-time (Gignac, 2018, para. 3).
The CEO of ShotSpotter (2018) stated that the sensors can detect the location of a gunshot within a minute and alert the police (para. 4). Gignac (2018) explains that these sensors are designed to filter out background noise and focus on detecting specific sounds associated with gunfire. When activated, the sensor determines the time and origin of the gunshot by triangulating the sound
(Gignac, 2018, para.).
According to Detective Sophia Mason of NYPD, crime in our city is currently at historic lows thanks to ShotSpotter (Gignac, 2018, para. 10).
Nursing Advocacy: Taking Action to Reduce Gun Violence
In her editorial titled "Taking Action to Reduce Gun Violence: It's Just Common Sense," Donna M. Nickitas (2016) discusses the increasing frequency of mass shootings in the news and emphasizes that nurses, who make up the majority of healthcare professionals, are well aware of the significant public health problem caused by gun violence.
Nurses play a crucial role in witnessing the life-altering impact of various issues on individuals, families, and communities (Nickitas, 2016). It is their duty to take a stand and assert their influence on all matters concerning community health, including evident problems like gun violence. According to Nickitas (2016), President Obama emphasized the importance of expanding access to mental health care, revealing a link between easy access to firearms and inadequate mental health services. The author emphasizes that if Nurses wish to advocate and take meaningful steps, they should reach out to their state and federal representatives to improve gun laws and promote responsible ownership. Additionally, they should raise awareness about gun violence within the community and find ways to amplify the voices of gun violence survivors (Nickitas, 2016). Dr.
According to Nickitas (2016), nurses have a strong history of advocating for addressing public health problems, including gun violence. The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) has called on Congress to establish a bipartisan National Commission on Mass Shootings ('Nursing Group Calls for National Action on Shootings', 2018) in response to the nurses' concern over the prevalence of gun violence. These nurses have witnessed the
consequences of gun violence firsthand and are determined to take action.
The AAN (2018) discussed the nurses' assertion that by enhancing the education of healthcare practitioners, they could actively participate in reducing firearm injuries and fatalities through health screening. The White House is cognizant of the prevailing situation in America, recognizing gun violence as an imperative issue that demands immediate attention. Renee Montagne (2018) from Weekend Edition Sunday elaborated on the White House's exploration of potential approaches to decrease shootings. Among these strategies is the consideration of implementing a red-flag law (Montagne, 2018).
In an interview conducted by Montagne (2018), Republican State Attorney General Curtis Hill Jr. of Indiana, one of the five states in America to implement this legislation, discussed the red-flag law. According to State Attorney General Hill, the law enables police officers to seize firearms from individuals perceived as a threat to themselves or others. This law holds significance as it prevents individuals struggling with mental illness or engaging in abusive behaviors from causing harm with a firearm.
Hill Jr. argues in the interview that the issue is not about gun ownership but about the potential threat posed by someone who possesses a gun and may use it inappropriately (Montagne, 2018).
References
- AHC MEDIA. (2018). Nursing Group Calls for National Action on Shootings: OSHA cites facility for violence against workers. Hospital Employee Health, 37(4), 14–N.PAG. Retrieved from http://holyfamily.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true;db=ccm;AN=128565034;site=ehost-live
- Farrell, D. (2018, July). A solution to gun violence found in US history.
Retrieved from (Farrell, 2018) Henry, N. E., MS, McMichael, M., Johnson, J., DiStasi, A., Elkins, C. B., & Holman, H. C.
(2016).
The source for RN Community health nursing (7th ed.) is retrieved from https://www.atitesting.com (Henry et. al,
2016). Also, Julien Gignac's article from the Toronto Star was published on July 21, 2018.
According to an article from the Toronto Star in Canada, the CEO of ShotSpotter claims that technology has the potential to decrease incidents of gun violence. The article can be found at http://holyfamily.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true;db=n5h;AN=6FPTS2018072146919020;site=ehost-live.
The Journal of Community Health published a study conducted by Lewis et. al (2016), which is available at this link. Another noteworthy publication was authored by Milam, A. J., Furr-Holden, C. D., Leaf, P., and Webster, D. (2018).
The Journal of Interpersonal Violence (33(24), 3815–3828) discusses the management of conflicts in urban communities and the attitudes of youth towards gun violence. The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260516639584. On March 9, 2018, a nursing group called for national action on shootings, as reported by this link: http://www.ahcmedia.com/articles/142364-nursing-group-calls-for-national-action-on-shootings.
