GUNS, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND HUMAN LIVES: COMPARATIVE LESSONS FROM NIGERIA AND THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

This article recognizes the duty of the United States to safeguard its citizens from the harm caused by gun violence using the right to life framework. It considers statistics on gun violence, including homicide rates, mass shootings, suicide rates, and accidental homicides, while also highlighting the urgency of the problem. The article aims to identify and examine the human rights impacted by gun violence in the United States, with more emphasis on the right to life. By analyzing federal legislative enactments, key Supreme Court decisions, and international human rights frameworks, it demonstrates how the prevalence of gun violence infringes upon fundamental rights such as the right to life, security, equality, freedom of religion, freedom from discrimination and freedom of expression. Through a comparative analysis with other countries that have successfully regulated private gun ownership, the article highlights the limitations and challenges of current U.S. laws and policies. It calls for a unified approach by all three branches of government to effectively address and mitigate gun violence, emphasizing that the failure to do so constitutes a continuous breach of the citizens' right to life and other essential human rights.