What is the single most important issue to you that should be a top Essay

What is the single most important issue to you that should be a top priority in our national discourse Why - Essay Example Currently, the issue is widely debated in the public and political arena in the US that how appropriate it is to allow civilians to keep arms with them. Follman argues that there is no rationale in the belief that when more people are armed, there are better chances of stopping these tragic events. In fact, facts prove otherwise. In none of the cases any civilian ever intervened to stop the mass killing. Even if in a particular case any civilian did intervene, either they failed miserably to stop the killing or they themselves were harmed or killed. The fact remains that mass shooting has increased several fold in the US because it has been easier than ever before for anyone to carry guns in public places such as movie theaters, parks, schools (Follman). It can be noticed that casualty score is much higher in 2012, especially due to Sandy Hook and Aurora theater incidents. It is a fact that American society has been heavily armed since its inception and private arms have been increasing at a rapid pace. Sales data reveal that in 1995, 200 million guns were in possession of the people in the US. In a rough estimate, its number is now close to the total US population that means, on average, each citizen is in possession of some kind of a gun under the excuse of self-defense (Follman). National Rifle Association (NRA) is known in the US as a formidable pro-gun lobby and spends a lot in support of politicians for its cause. NRA also organizes for firearms safety training and tournaments across all parts of the US. Most states also recognize the NRA trained instructors by law. While NRA proposes in the defense of law-abiding citizens and against the crime makers, it takes a hardliner view whenever a debate spurs about enacting any gun control measures. As Kucinich reports, NRA has been mounting pressure on lawmakers through