What Should Lawmakers Do About Guns and Gun Violence? By Timothy Park

   

The Unfortunate Reality of Gun Violence

(Quick disclaimer: This can be a sensitive topic, so be aware of the content talked about below)

     As you may know, proper gun control has been a significant issue in the United States. There have been many pushes toward the government to do something about guns because they harm society more substantially. However, the government has a significant role in deciding what to do with guns and gun violence.

    I think the government should enforce stricter laws for gun purchasing and possession. With the rise of shootings and gun violence in the States, many shooters illegally purchase dangerous firearms. There are many ways you can illegally buy a gun. Purchasing from the black market, stealing, and even buying one underage are, for the most part, illegal. Also, illegally having possession can be like owning a gun without a license, or if you are a minor and own a firearm. 

    One of the main reasons guns have been a severe threat to society is people who abuse their possession of a gun(s). People can use guns for self-protection, hunting, etc. However, not all people who purchase or own guns intend to use them for harm. With that in mind, I do not think guns should be entirely banned because people use them for practical purposes, and banning all guns could trigger a large chunk of the population.

    I do not think there is a permanent solution, but many “short-term” solutions have been proposed or implemented. Each possible solution has its flaws and would only benefit a particular side. In this case, the two groups would be pro-gun supporters and anti-gun supporters. It is hard to find a solution that would help both sides while keeping the public safe. For example, if the federal government banned guns, anti-gun supporters would be happy, but pro-gun supporters would not approve of the decision. Even if the government creates a law on preventing gun violence, it will not decrease the number of gun crimes. There are still criminals that can illegally purchase guns from dealers or the black market and proceed to shoot up a store. These are instances in which the problem is out of the government's hands and makes it difficult for lawmakers to create a law in which it is fair for most of the public. However, a push for gun control would logically make most sense seeing the rise of gun homicides within the past few years. As shown on the graph below which was created by the Seattle Times, the number of people killed/injured from guns has been drastically rising since 2014 and eventually hit an all-time high of 19,380 casualties and 39,427 injuries. Nearly 20,000 people killed from guns in one year sounds absurd and it is because many people should lose their life to a gun. With the information in mind, it is appropriate to say the government should find some way to prevent gun fatalities of those numbers.

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/shootings-never-stopped-during-the-pandemic-2020-was-the-deadliest-gun-violence-year-in-decades/

    One may say, "The government has already tried limiting possession of guns, but people do not listen". The government has made laws on gun violence, but they do not seem to be effective in any. Realistically, I do not think there is a reasonable long-term solution that would help prevent further gun violence, but there are solutions right now that can prevent more shootings in the long run. Mental health programs are vital because many accused shooters (especially school shootings) are mid-to-late teens with something going on with them mentally. For example, the accused shooter responsible for the Oxford High School shooting that occurred a couple of months ago was 14 years old. The shooter responsible for the Parkland school shooting a few years ago was only 19 years old. The intentions of these shooters were most likely mentally related. According to https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/gun-violence-prevention, "Prevention of violence occurs along a continuum that begins in early childhood with programs to help parents raise emotionally healthy children and ends with efforts to identify and intervene with troubled individuals who are threatening violence". This quote written by the American Phycological Association makes a key point about good parenting and how that affects the mental health of a child. Mental health is a crucial factor when talking about gun violence because many acclaimed shooters have some sort of mental illness. Overall, I do think the government should continue to fight against gun violence and push for more awareness about mental health.