DAY 18 OF 31 OF THE MAY DEEP THOUGHT WRITING CHALLENGE
Mass Shootings Are A Problem In America
When we accept this mere fact, what can we do about it?
Are you assuming that the hype about mass shootings in America is overreported? It’s May 18, 2023, and there have already been 227 mass shootings this year in the country, and we’re not even halfway through. Even one mass shooting in a country in one year is one way too many. We shouldn’t be giving guns to just anyone.
Do you want to know what I think will help curb the rise in mass shootings at this point? Some of you might think that my logic here is controversial. I don’t. I don’t think that the second amendment should be the primary argument for gun ownership. The NRA wants you to believe that more guns and more good people with guns will solve our current problem. Think about it for a second. How will more guns prevent more violence?
That will just give us more opportunities for even more senseless gun violence. The problem is society itself. We need to change the way we think about guns and gun ownership. Why don’t we just screen people for guns the same way we test people for driving or for any other type of professional certification?
We have some sort of screening here in the United States, but it’s not enough. We need to have restrictions on ownership for those who have a violent history, unstable mental health history, or any other typical red flags for those who would use these guns in an unlawful way. We also need to recertify every existing gun owner and make sure that they understand the laws and basic gun safety.
This also includes educating and keeping guns away from children. There are children now bringing guns in their backpacks to school. This led to a few school districts in the country banning backpacks now. What has it gotten to? This is terrible. What are we going to ban at school next? Lunchboxes. A small gun could fit into a lunchbox. Where does it stop?
Another solution to the gun problem in America would be to institute effective gun buyback programs across the country. I feel like if you make it worth people’s while right now, especially with a down economy, they’ll be more inclined to give their guns up than to be poor.
All of these ideas combined will certainly help to curb the current major problem that has been caused by this notion that guns are a right. I get that this is written in the Constitution. It’s 2023, not 1776. We’re no longer fighting the British. The government isn’t coming for you to put you in a detention camp.
I’m not suggesting we get rid of all guns. That’s never going to happen. We should just put less emphasis on guns. If we can get enough guns off of the street, especially ones that are used in violent crimes, then we can curb violence in general.
Another thing I think that should happen is that police officers and other law enforcement shouldn’t even be allowed to carry a loaded weapon. There are so many other effective defense tools they have that they could use instead of deadly force.
Eventually, this de-escalation of guns and gun violence would make it less necessary for many people to need guns. I’m not shy when it comes to my opinion on this. I’m pro-gun control and I feel like that makes me patriotic. I don’t want to see my country devolve into a militaristic state.
Autistic Widower (“AJ”), Brett Jenae Tomlin, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Trisha Faye, Karen Schwartz, NancyO, Katie Michaelson, Bernie Pullen, Michelle Jimerson Morris, Amy Frances, Julia A. Keirns, Ravyne Hawke, Pamela Oglesby, Harry Hogg, Tina, Pat Romito LaPointe, Brandon Ellrich, Misty Rae, Karen Hoffman, Susie Winfield, Vincent Pisano, Marlene Samuels, Ray Day, Randy Pulley, Michael Rhodes, Lu Skerdoo, Pluto Wolnosci, Paula Shablo, Bruce Coulter, Ellen Baker, Leigh-Anne Dennison, Jennifer Marla Pike, Carmen Ballesteros, Marlana, MSW, Patricia Timmermans, Keeley Schroder, Jerry Dwyer, Teisha LeShea, Jacinta Palmer, Ruby Noir, and myself, The Sturg.
