On Aug. 27, a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church was interrupted by a shooting, leaving two children dead and 19 injured. The heartbreaking event left shockwaves throughout the nation, but sadly, not enough to entice change. Instead of action for harsher gun laws, the tragedy was met with the kind sentiment of “thoughts and prayers.”
As a young journalist, it is my responsibility to stay informed on current events. As much as I enjoy journalism and being a part of The Panther, I cannot remember the last time I saw good news. I will never understand why so many preventable deaths go unanswered due to an outdated law in the Bill of Rights, written 233 years ago. Technology has altered firearms from rifles and pistols to more powerful and harmful machine guns and Glocks. Times have changed, and so should the laws.
How many more shootings? How many more barely-lived lives need to be lost? How many parents must bury their children for the government to do something about it?
Although “thoughts and prayers” is a kind sentiment, it is just that. An afterthought in a situation that deserves more recognition. Thoughts and prayers are no longer enough.
No one should be able to turn 18 and immediately be able to buy a weapon that does more harm than good.
Aside from individuals having loosely restricted access to guns, there is also the danger of children discovering their parents’ guns and taking them to school. Not to mention accidentally setting it off. The secure placement and storage of firearms in a household, or anywhere for that matter, is crucial to avoiding these problems. Official gun owners must have a responsible place under lock and key that only they have access to.
According to an analysis from Johns Hopkins, in 2022, there were 2,526 gun deaths among individuals ages 1 to 17. That statistic does not include the last three years, during which gun violence has increased and social media has become increasingly influential. Considering that such a statistic exists should be an indicator of an urgent problem that the government needs to address.
Over the past year, there have already been over 300 mass shootings and at least 100 school shootings. Other countries like China and the United Kingdom have implemented near-ban restrictions on guns, and their death rates have gone down significantly. So what is stopping us?
The Second Amendment states “the right to keep and bear arms.” While the purpose of this amendment was to provide self-defense in the home or against tyranny, its power has now been abused.
Guns do not have to be gone entirely; there simply need to be more precautions. Improved background checks, waiting periods before purchasing, harsher age restrictions or limiting the kind of guns that are available for purchase could significantly reduce the death rate from shootings in the U.S.
Implementing trackers on every gun sold could be an efficient way to determine if guns are being purchased for the right reasons. Not only could this prevent harm, but it would also allow law enforcement to more easily obtain the perpetrator. In addition, the inclusion of a gun safe where guns can be held and stored safely lessens the risk of irreparable damage to oneself or others.
The debate about gun control in this country has gone back and forth for years, and still, nothing has changed. A full ban would no doubt cause outrage, and the current regulations are not enough to resolve the issue. Ultimately, there needs to be a middle ground because there should not need to be more deaths for the government to take action.
