Thoughts on Gun Control from Hudson Valley Residents
Gun control is not a light topic. Hudson Valley Residents at the Poughkeepsie Galleria, the Culinary Institute in Hyde Park and in Downtown Arlington expressed both support and concern for the future of guns and potential legislation to come.
“We should have no guns. No guns that’s the bottom line. Only people in law enforcement but some of them shouldn’t even have a gun. It’s a crazy world out there. There’s really not much to say because I do not know if there will be any change,” said Beth M. of Fishkill, N.Y.
Support for the second amendment could very well be a thing of the past. Hudson Valley residents expressed uncertainty regarding the future of guns, the majority in favor of gun control. Grayson Bradford of Arlington said that he is “definitely back and forth”. Bradford explains that guns “definitely needs more control, but at the same time it’s a second amendment right”. Angelica Murray of Wappinger Falls said that “it is so accessible to get a gun” and that “people are just able to go out and buy one”. Murray also said, that “background checks are so necessary, but at the same time I think people will be able to easily fork around limitations”.
On the subject of the school shootings that have been plaguing American youth, Maura Campbell of Hopewell Junction expressed distaste with the current lack of gun legislation but was in support of teachers because equipped in case of an emergency. “Teachers should be able to have guns so that if someone does come into the building, they’re able to protect not only themselves but their entire classroom full of children,” said Campbell. On the contrary, Dawn Marshall of Wappinger Falls explained her worry for the potential to have armed guards in schools. “What if a child gets a hold of it during school hours? This tactic would make it easy for something very bad to happen. My grandchildren are the center of my life and I worry all the time about this kind of stuff,” said Marshall.
Though there are differing opinions among individuals, the common denominator unifying many citizens is that change needs to happen.
“I think there is a solution but both sides have to be willing to not take away rights but also come up with better stipulations and restrictions,” said Amelia Breitmaier, who grew up in the Hudson Valley among a family of gun owners. “Gun owners aren’t the issue. Criminals are obtaining guns illegally, not legal gun owners committing crimes.”
Breitmaier said she feels safe in her daily life, adding that she hopes to obtain her own conceal carry license this summer.
Melanie Bailey of Hyde Park, N.Y. also feels safe, though she recognizes that when it comes to gun violence, her safety is sometimes out of her own control.
“I understand that feeling has no bearing on my actual safety,” she explained. “I have no control over whether I will walk into a situation at work one day, or anywhere out in public when an individual brings a gun and violent intentions.”
Jenn and Michael Sullivan, two longtime residents of New Paltz, N.Y., argue that passing legislation on gun control is not black and white, but rather a grey area.
“Guns are very ingrained in American culture and of course the Second Amendment of the U.S.Constitution is the low-hanging fruit for pro-gun folks to latch onto, even though the context is exaggerated and doesn’t reflect modern times,” Michael Sullivan said. “Regardless, I think solutions should not be an all-encompassing ban on guns or even a ban on the most controversial guns.”
Jenn and Michael have three school-aged children, and although the possibility of gun violence in the classroom is always in the back of their minds, the couple turns to statistics to help themselves feel at ease.
“ I worry about my kids a little but I understand the likelihood of gun violence in school is statistically small,” said Jenn, who has owned a small business in Poughkeepsie for over a decade.
“This concern is simply part of our lives now,” Michael added. “It won’t change until new gun control laws change and are properly enforced and when we start to see positive effects over a period of years”
Bryce C. of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. can’t help but feel like the issue of gun control is out of the every day citizen’s hands.
“At the end of the day, legislatures are going to do what’s best to fit their own agenda,” he said. “It’s unfortunate but sometimes I feel hopeless on this issue, and many others as well.”
Weibo Lee, a student from the Culinary Institute in Hyde Park described it as “a nation’s problem.”
The larger issue of gun violence and need for gun control on school and college campuses was a topic Lee broached in his explanation. Lee couldn’t offer solutions to battle these incidents of gun violence because he believed it all depended on what school one attends.
“Our campus is more safe than any other university,” said Lee.
Given the amount of safety and security resources on campus Lee doesn’t worry about gun violence happening on his campus. At his previous school, Houston University, he said “it was dangerous and you couldn’t go out at night.”
The larger issue that it all came down to was how people feel as though they are unable to express themselves. “You should conduct yourself like an adult and if you have an issue you should talk about it,” said Lee.
On a Wednesday morning, a young woman named Megan Keating sat on a bench in the unusually quiet Poughkeepsie mall. When approached with questions about gun violence in her country, she was unphased by the topic. Perhaps this reflects a difference in how the generations react to controversy. Keating is a recent graduate of SUNY New Paltz, meaning that she matured during a time where gun violence is a norm. She vividly remembers the shooting at Sandy Hook, and has since been plugged into a news cycle where gun violence seems to be reported weekly.
But Keating is not hopeless when it comes to the current situation around gun violence. She knows that changes must be made, but she said, “It’s not an easy answer. It’s going to take a lot more collaboration than what’s going on right now.”
She believes that an open and honest conversation around the issue is the first step towards progress. She said, “The conversation should be around why people feel so attached to their guns. Maybe figure out why they don’t feel safe in this country. Try and find a way for them to feel safe.”
Keating also touched on the importance of empathy from both sides. “We should help people who didn’t grow up in gun culture to understand why it’s important,” she said. “Some people do value them to feed their families or as a recreational thing. I don’t think there’s a problem with it if it’s in a safe environment. But I do think that the obsession with guns makes it this thing where people feel super protective.”
Keating closes her argument with a call for understanding. “You don’t have to agree with the other side, but you have to understand where they’re coming from.”
“My brother in law, whom I’ve known for a very long time used to be in a gang,” said Keating. “I had one of my older sister’s friends come to my house and get shot on our front lawn which was crazy,” she explained. The friend who had been shot resided in Kingston, however, Keating’s house and the location of the incident occurred in New Paltz.
“New Paltz is a super liberal town too, so you wouldn’t think something like this would just occur,” said Keating. The pressing question of why people feel so attached and safe with guns in their back pocket is one that even Keating is still trying to unravel. “Some people value guns for different reasons such as to feed their families,” said Keating. She respects individuals who are able to use their guns responsibly and effectively in this country.
Her experiences surrounding gun violence in schools is also a subtopic that she was able to share. “I have nieces and nephews whose ages are close to those who attended school in Sandy Hook,” said Keating. Her concern with school shootings is one that is very personal to her since she currently has two family members who go to school in Kingston.
“I don’t think that every part of the country is going to have the same solution surrounding gun control because the cultures are different.” However, she expressed the importance of understanding where everyone’s viewpoints reside in relation to gun control safety in our country. She believes that understanding these issues is the first step towards any future solution regarding guns in the United States.
As uncomfortable as the question about what to do with gun control can be, the younger demographic- Millenials/Generation Zs were confident to broach the subject.
College students Jayvonna D. and Kayla W. who have both been affected by gun violence to some extent, admitted they feel “somewhat safe” in their community. They expressed concern about kids in school, and thus have hope that there is an answer to gun violence. Jayvonna believes that “getting people more active in the community to occupy their time, play sports, etc.” is one potential solution to gun violence. “I think that finally changing the gun laws and having trustworthy companies that are selling guns, making sure they don’t sell to underage kids, is a solution,” said Kayla.
Recent college graduate Railyna W. shared similar sentiments to the two college students. While expressing her viewpoints on gun violence, Railyna said, “I do feel pretty safe in my own community, but I would say that’s probably because I’m used to being here at this point.”
Railyna also expressed her worry about kids in school. “I worry because they aren’t getting the help they need or deserve,” said Railyna. “I think what is needed is for the police to crack down harder on looking for guns.”
As far as an answer to gun violence, Railyna generally feels hopeful about it all. “I believe there is a solution to gun violence…I mean, I have to feel that in way in order to believe that unnecessary killing with illegal guns will stop in my community,” said Railyna, who briefly mentioned that her older cousin was shot and killed as a result of gun violence.
Due to the controversial nature of our topic, many interviewed refused to be photographed and refused to have their full surname printed.
Contributors: Julia Halsey, Dylan Lopez, Breanne Borromeo, Katie Morreale, Nicola Barrett
