Hot-spot policing is one of the crime policies that are aimed at preventing crimes in the community or neighborhoods. Hot-spot policing is one of the traditional and most effective crime prevention techniques. The policy is effective, especially based on the findings of studies that have been done by many scholars, especially criminologists. Hot-spot policing does not only reduce crime in hot spot areas but also communities that are perceived to be safe ( Weisburd, 2018) . A study that was done in Jersey City revealed that hot-spot policing lowers crime in small hot-spot areas significantly. Thus, the policy is not nonsensical. However, its main limitation is that it encourages criminals to shift their operations from one area to another, leading to the spread of criminal activities. The community-based policing policy would be a better alternative because of the long-term effects on the prevention of crime. Community-based policing is effective as it allows local people to play an active role in crime prevention. Besides, it improves the relationship between law enforcement officers and the community. Thus, community-based policing is better than hot-spot policing because the former is proactive while the former is reactive. To effectively implement the policy, law enforcement agencies and officers must first develop a rapport with the target community ( Weisburd, 2018) . Also, the community should understand the objective of the policy and its role in the implementation process. The main intended consequences of community-based policing is an improvement of a crime deterrent, as people will be more vigilant and report suspected criminal activities. Moreover, it will educate the public about safety and security while creating crime-related awareness. The collaboration between the police and community is essential in crime prevention. Sandy Hook School mass shooting remains to be one of the most celebrated crime cases in the USA, especially based on the number of victims. The shooting occurred on December 14, 2012, leaving 28 people dead, including twenty students and six teachers ( Wilkie, 2013) . Adam Lanza, the perpetrator of the mass shooting, used guns to kill innocent children and adults, and he brutally injured her mother. The shooting reignited the debate about gun ownership in the USA. A significant number of people were concerned about the ease of accessing guns in the country ( Wilkie, 2013) . At the same time, politicians used the crime to advocate for stringent gun control laws, which would reduce the number of people who can access guns. Sandy Hook shooting remains to be one of the deadliest mass shooting in schools in the history of the USA. Strict gun control was the policy that was suggested after the Sandy Hook mass shooting. The local government championed for the enactment of stringent gun control laws that would ensure that only legible people could own guns. Specifically, the Connecticut legislature passed strict gun control laws approximately 100 after the mass shooting. The law banned the sale of a gun magazine that can carry more than 100 rounds of ammunition ( Wilkie, 2013) . Besides, based on the new law, a thorough background check must be conducted for private gun sales. Also, the local government increased the funding for school safety, as well as providing mental health programs. The accessibility of guns is positively related to a mass shooting or gun-related violence ( Reeping et al., 2018) . On the contrary, states with strict gun control laws have experienced a reducing rate or gun-related crimes and violence. Thus, gun control policy can reduce mass shooting.
References
Reeping, P. M., Cerdá, M., Kalesan, B., Wiebe, D. J., Galea, S., & Branas, C. C. (2019). State gun laws, gun ownership, and mass shootings in the US: Cross-sectional time series. BMJ , 364 (1).
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Weisburd, D. (2018). Hot spots of crime and place ‐ based prevention. Criminology & Public Policy , 17 (1), 5-25.
Wilkie, C. (2013, April 4). Connecticut Passes Nation’s Strictest Gun Law in wake of Sandy Hook Massacre. HuffPost . Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/connecticut- gun-control-sandy-hook-law_n_3011625
