The increase in cases of gun violence in the United States has led to increased calls for stricter gun control regulations. In 1994, an armed civilian named Nicholas Cruz entered a Florida school and shot at students using an AR-5-style rifle, killing some. Debates about gun control in the United States began in 1994 after the Florida shooting (Bingham and Amy, 2017). The debates led to the enactment of various gun control laws. AR-5 style rifles were later banned under the federal assault weapons ban passed by the US Congress and signed into law by Bill Clinton (Spitzer and Robert, 2012). Gun control measures enforced by the U.S. government in its efforts to curb gun violence in the country include bans on the possession of certain types of weapons, gun teachers, and extensive background and mental screening for gun buyers. Gun control in the United States is necessary to combat gun violence. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First, the lack of gun control measures results in gun ownership by inappropriate individuals. Mental and background screening is one of the proposed strategies to curb gun violence in the country and aims to ensure that firearms are owned by psychologically fit individuals (Winkler and Adam, 2011). According to Winkler and Adam (2011), 5% of total gun homicides experienced in the United States were perpetrated by mentally ill individuals. Although statistics are scarce, it is evident that psychological aspects contribute to gun violence in the country. Additionally, individuals from violent backgrounds, such as neighborhoods that are home to criminal gangs, should be barred from accessing guns. Easy access to firearms for gang-affiliated individuals is likely one reason why neighborhoods that are home to gangs experience more cases of gun violence than other areas (Bingham and Amy, 2017). The United States government established the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) used to screen potential gun buyers. The system is intended to identify individuals who commit domestic abuse, convicted felons and the mentally ill and ban them from purchasing guns. The program has not been very helpful in regulating gun purchases because many private sellers are still unregulated. The US government should implement the program effectively as it is likely to be effective in curbing gun violence. Screening the background and mental state of gun buyers will ensure that guns fall into the right hands, thus reducing cases of gun violence in the country. Likewise, effective gun control will ensure that appropriate weapons are sold to the public.