Question
For this Discussion Board Forum, interact in a free-flowing discussion of the biblical and constitutional parameters for the particular policy focus being discussed this module/week. In other words, you must discuss the “May” portion of the “May-Can-Should” approach to policy analysis and implementation. Engage the ideas of your classmates and the required readings and presentations in a meaningful and thoughtful manner.
Remember to provide thoughts on what government should or should not do from a biblical and constitutional perspective. Also discuss what other groups, individuals, and organizations (possibly including state and local government) should be doing within society to address the policy issues discussed in this module/week.
Sample paper
Constitutional Parameters
Every government must design and implement laws and policies that seek to protect and improve the well being of the common people in their area of jurisdiction. Policy analysis and implementation help the government and public administration to give an opportunity to civil servants, activists, and the common citizen to examine the available alternatives to implement the goals of the law. One of the most popular and controversial public policy in the United States today is the gun policy. Research shows that the debate over gun control in the US has waxed and waned for years and has substantially been stirred by a series of the mass shootings. On the other hand, using the can-may-should approach, the civil servants have an opportunity to establish the right policies and the wrong policies that should not be adopted in the country (O’Brien, Forrest, Lynott, & Daly, 2013). According to this public policy evaluation, because the government or an individual can do something does not mean that they may do it and certainly does not mean they should do it. This assignment will attempt to analyze and evaluate the US gun policy using the can-may-should approach.
The May stage of policy analysis process
The May stage of this policy analysis process helps to determine the existing constraints on the policy that could obstruct the success and implementation of the policy. Gun ownership in the states is significantly addressed in the second amendment of the constitution. According to the constitution, “a well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Despite the fact that the constitution allowing the ownership of regulated guns, one more many times, the supreme court has upheld some firearms restriction (Tushnet, 2007). This means that the government may restrict the ownership of certain forms of guns in the country such as concealed weapons and weapons of mass destructions. Additionally, the government may also restrict the sale of guns and weapons to certain categories of people particularly children. Notably, the may of the public policy analysis helps in determining the legal, compliance and regulatory constraints of a policy. Therefore, in this policy, gun dealers may sell weapons to all people except those below the age of 18 years. The Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibits the sale and ownership of the gun to people who are underage (Henigan, 2016). While most of the other categories of people are allowed to own guns in the country, other groups that may not possess guns include convicted criminals, mentally disabled individuals and dishonorably discharged military personnel.
According to the bible, weaponry is an important part of warfare and should be used for self-protection. Notably, carrying or owning a weapon for protection is never condemned in the bible. Jesus himself mentioned carrying and owning weapons in a positive light in one occasion (luke22: 35-38). The same Bible calls upon all Christians to submit to governing authorizes and respect the law. Therefore, if the law states that people under the age of 18 years, convicted criminals, mentally disabled individuals should not own guns, as Christians, they should adhere to these rules and regulations of the authority (Ministers, 2008). With the increased cases of mass shooting in the US, it is the high time that the government reviews this policy to ensure that guns and other weapons are only owned by the right people who care for human life.
References
Henigan, D. A. (2016). “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people”: And other myths about guns and gun control. Boston: Beacon Press.
Ministers S. (2008). Southern Presbyterian pulpit: A collection of sermons from the nineteenth century. Birmingham, AL: Solid Ground Christian Books.
O’Brien, K., Forrest, W., Lynott, D., & Daly, M. (2013). Racism, Gun Ownership and Gun Control: Biased Attitudes in US Whites May Influence Policy Decisions. PLoS ONE, 8(10), e77552. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0077552
Tushnet, M. V. (2007). Out of range: Why the Constitution can’t end the battle over guns. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
