Addison Guth Policy Advisory

Some people want to ban some guns that look "scary", but we think this is wrong. We think the government should check people better before they let them buy any gun and teach them how to use it safely. This is because banning some guns will not make less people die from guns or stop criminals from shooting many people at once. Criminals will still get guns in other ways or use other things to hurt people. Also, banning some guns will go against the law that says people can have guns to protect themselves. The highest court in the country agrees with this law for guns that good people usually have.

Criminals do not follow the law and get guns in other ways. A study of people in prison showed that most of them got their guns illegally, like from people they know or by stealing them. Another report showed that many guns used in crimes are bought legally by people who then sell them illegally to criminals or groups. Some of the guns are not even made legally. A study by a university found that many guns used in crimes are homemade guns that are made from parts that are not regulated or printed from online plans. These guns have no numbers and are hard to find for the police. The study also found that most of the guns were obtained from people they know or illegal sources and that only a few of the guns were bought from legal dealers. Some criminals use fake papers to pass checks and buy guns from legal dealers. They may use stolen names, fake records, or fake licenses to trick the dealers and the authorities. Some criminals use guns that are brought from other places where gun laws are not strict or not followed. They may use people who move guns across borders and hide them. For example, in 2019, a man in Texas was caught buying more than 40 guns from legal dealers using a fake driver’s license and a fake gun license. He then sold the guns to other criminals, some of whom did drugs and killed people. In another case, in 2019, the police in California found more than 500 guns that were brought from Mexico by a bad group. The guns had assault rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Banning some guns would not change the rate of gun deaths or stop mass shootings much. Most gun deaths are from handguns, not rifles, and most mass shooters use handguns or get their guns illegally. For example, in 2019, out of 13,927 people who died from guns, only 364 died from rifles of any kind, while 6,368 died from handguns. In the same year, out of 28 mass shootings (where four or more people died), only four used rifles, while 19 used handguns. There is no clear and same way to say what a banned gun is. Different laws and ideas use different things, like how they look, what they have, or how many bullets they can hold, to say what a banned gun is. This makes people confused and not sure and lets gun makers change their guns a little and keep selling them. For example, the 1994 law that banned some guns said a banned gun was a gun that could shoot many times without reloading and had at least two of five things, like a place to put a knife or a handle to hold it. But gun makers just took off some of the things and sold the same guns with different names. Many other things make gun violence and mass shootings happen, like mental health, society, media, and police.

Combating Human Trafficking: A Call to Action 

Human trafficking, an age-old menace, persists in our modern world, demanding urgent attention and concerted efforts to bring it to an end. This reprehensible practice involves the sale of human beings as commodities for slave and sex labor, degrading individuals to the status of objects at the mercy of unscrupulous perpetrators. This grave issue spans the globe, with countless individuals being shipped away to foreign lands, facing the erosion of their fundamental rights and dignity. 

Human trafficking affects men, women, and children on a staggering scale, robbing them of their agency and subjecting them to unimaginable horrors. The urgency to address this heinous crime has never been more critical, necessitating a comprehensive approach that encompasses protection, assistance, prevention, and awareness. 

Our mission is to provide effective and holistic protection and assistance to the victims of human trafficking. We believe in addressing the root causes of this issue and actively participating in prevention efforts. Through awareness campaigns and educational initiatives, we strive to empower communities to recognize, resist, and combat human trafficking. 

One alarming trend contributing to the rise of human trafficking involves the exploitation of technology, particularly concerning children. Predators stalk potential victims online, exploiting the vulnerabilities of unsuspecting individuals. As we advance in the digital age, it becomes imperative to adapt our strategies to protect the most vulnerable members of our society from falling prey to these heinous crimes. 

In response to this pressing need, we have championed the creation of a comprehensive bill aimed at eradicating human trafficking. This legislation seeks to hold traffickers accountable for their crimes by imposing severe penalties, including imprisonment and, in extreme cases, the electric chair. By advocating for the passage of this bill, we strive to send a powerful message that human trafficking will not be tolerated, and those who perpetrate such atrocities will face the full force of the law. 

As we stand at the forefront of this battle, our commitment is unwavering. Through collaboration with law enforcement, NGOs, and the public, we aim to create a world where the scourge of human trafficking is eradicated, and the rights and dignity of every individual are safeguarded. It is not merely a fight against an ancient evil; it is a call to humanity to rise, unite, and protect the most vulnerable among us. Together, we can put an end to this reprehensible practice and forge a future where every individual can live free from the shackles of exploitation and abuse.