Worst mass shooting in U.S. spurs debate and stirs emotions in Hudson Valley
In the aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting, which claimed 59 lives, the debate is all too familiar.
There are heated arguments both for and against stricter gun laws, whether background checks are adequate and where safety plays into all of this. In the Mid-Hudson Valley, this conversation is going strong.
In recent weeks, the staff of the Marist Groundhog scattered into the community and talked to dozens of people, including gun enthusiasts, college students at three campuses, commuters, hunters, emergency responders, and parents.
As this story was being compiled, another horrific shooting occurred in Texas on Nov. 5. Twenty-six people were killed. A few days earlier, three people were killed in a Wal-Mart in Colorado.
During Groundhog interviews after the Vegas shootings, one law enforcement student and hunter said that legislators aren’t educated enough on the differences between types of guns and how they are used to pass laws on restricting them. A young parent, on the other hand, argued that there will be no change in public safety unless the laws change.
Here is what is weighing on the hearts and minds of others in the Hudson Valley.
Gun Enthusiasts
“Anyone with a moral compass in this country was appalled by what happened [in Las Vegas]. And it is one person that did something wrong. One,” said Jackie Emslie, a member of the Dutchess County Pistol Association (DCPA) and NRA.
Having been a member of the DCPA for almost 27 years, as well as a longtime gun instructor and owner, Emslie does not believe that more gun laws are the answer. There needs to be a balance between those who wish to see everyone armed and those who only want the police and military to have access to guns, according to Emslie.
“We have so many gun laws in this country, 20,000 and counting, and we kind of have to ask ourselves- what’s it doing for us?” said Emslie. “To some people a safe society means no guns, but to the vast majority of people it’s firearms in the hands of responsible people that can actually save lives, and it can stop dangerous actions in its tracks.”
Emslie also emphasizes education.
“If people know that they can do that and they’re willing to take action, and they’re taking responsibility for their own personal protection then they can rise to the occasion.”
Fellow gun owners, Marist College sophomore Izzy Koch and Marist College seniors Amelia Kaufteil and Joe Kohn echo Jackie’s sentiment regarding the importance of safety training for gun owners.
”I understand the concern that people have but I also respect people’s desire to protect themselves. If you can legally carry a gun, I don’t see a problem in carrying it around. People just need to be educated about it first,” said Kohn, who owns a gun for both hunting and protection.
However, unlike Emslie, Koch, Kaufteil and Kohn support increased gun control in light of events like the Las Vegas shooting.
“I think we’ve seen that when good samaritans have guns responsibly, they can deter bad things from happening, but the reverse is also true. I think the Las Vegas incident showed that there can be mistakes in gun control procedures,” said Koch.
Kaufteil believes that one of these mistakes is the availability of certain weapons to the public. “Hunting rifles are one thing, but assault and military-grade weapons are another. I think that if those types of weapons can be bought and modified to become even deadlier, then something needs to be changed.”
Students
Non-gun owning students of the Hudson Valley are a bit more mixed when it comes to the gun safety discussion. Some feel that large, public events present possible dangers to personal safety.
“I like going to festivals and music festivals. I would definitely be more hesitant to go to a music festival in a more urban setting. Kind of akin to the venue that was in Las Vegas,” said Vassar senior Daniel Choi.
SUNY New Paltz freshman Michael Kitakis is similarly wary of events in bigger cities. “Well I think in essence most of the terror attacks are in big cities normally. If the event is in a big city like New York City or Las Vegas I’d still go, but I’d probably be more hesitant to go to a large crowd event there.”
For local college students, safety concerns have peaked for some, while others are simply accepting that these events could happen at any moment.
“We live in a scary world, and events like what happened in Las Vegas definitely make you question every day life. I really try not to live in fear of what may or can happen. Life is too short,” said Samantha Ackerman, a junior at SUNY New Paltz.
However, not all are increasingly concerned with their safety, like SUNY New Paltz student Griffin Major.
“The likelihood of being in a mass shooting such as the Las Vegas one is extremely rare. Americans probably have more chance of being bitten by a shark or killed by a vending machine than shot in a mass shooting,” said Major.
Although there is no clear solution proposed by students in regards to gun laws that could prevent events like the Las Vegas shooting, there is a general sense of a need for stricter gun control laws.
“We need strict gun laws and background checks. It’s way too easy to get a gun in this country. Republicans have a line like, ‘Guns don’t kill people, people do.’ That statement is so mind-boggling in its stupidity and ignorance I just don’t know what to say. I’m fascinated to understand the appeal of guns, it’s just a cultural thing I’ve never come across in New York City, liberal hub that it is,” said Vassar College senior Gus Frank.
Fellow Vassar senior Henry Molina also sees a need for stricter gun laws. “Stronger gun control laws have worked in other countries. I think they’d be applicable here. I don’t think the [gun control] options have been explored fully enough for the U.S.”
Kitakis, on the other hand, believes overly strict gun control might not be the answer, “I think completely banning them will cause more issues than it solves,” said Kitakis. “I do want to prevent someone from committing a shooting, but I still don’t want the laws to prohibit a responsible person from owning a gun.”
Commuters
Some commuters traveling on Metro North did not feel that there should be a nationwide ban on guns as well.
Shannon Johnson is a Hopewell Junction resident who travels on the Metro North daily for her commute to work. She believes that there should not be a total ban on guns in this country, but rather backgrounds checks should be enforced. “There is no need for an excessive amount of arms to be acquired,” said Johnson.
Another commuter who would only be identified as Mary Lou argued that too much attention was being given to the shooter’s identity. “The attention should be focused on the incident, not the guy,” said Mary Lou, sitting adjacent to Johnson.
Marist Community
The Marist College community similarly voiced a mix of opinions regarding gun control in this country.
For Marist senior Jessica D’Amelia, the topic of gun control brings up a specific memory. “One time my house was shot at. I think they found about 30 BB pellets in my backyard. None of us were home for it luckily, but there were like ten holes in our windows and we had to replace them all. I think it just goes to show that guns do not belong in the hands of people who are not responsible enough to use them,” said D’Amelia.
However, D’Amelia recognizes that while she has never felt the need to have a gun, others feel it is important for their “personal freedom.” “I think it is important to realize that people come from different backgrounds with different hobbies in different communities. I have come to realize that some people own guns because they feel they need to protect themselves.”
When it comes to the topic of personal protection, Marist senior Taiina Ayala questions the level of safety guns provide at public events. “I would like to ask them [gun owners], in situations like Vegas, do they think they could have saved the shooting?” asked Ayala.
Ayala also questions open carry laws.
“Personally, I am against open carry law,” said Ayala. “How are you going to know if someone is going to abuse this power and someone isn’t?”
Marist employee Clint Gannon disagrees; “I would love if this campus and other campuses would allow people to carry firearms.”
Since the age of 12, Gannon has regularly participated in target practice, hunting and trapping. He is also a lifetime member of the NRA and frequently has his gun on him outside of campus. “If I’m not working [on campus] I have my gun. Shootings are becoming more prevalent and I would rather be prepared. Better safe than sorry.”
In regards to the gun control debate, Gannon does not think there should be many changes to current gun laws.
“I think we have the right to bear arms and it was how his country was founded,” said Gannon.
Like Gannon, the administrative coordinator for the Marist School of Communication and the Arts, Robin Will, believes in the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
Unlike Gannon, however, Will believes that the current gun laws in this country need to be updated.
“I believe not everybody should be able to walk in and just purchase a gun, I believe there should be an application and a waiting period,” said Will. “And I think that is for everyone regardless of what you do as a job, or hunting, I still think no matter what kind of gun you should have to apply for it and be required to provide safety training affidavits to say that you have done safety and that you understand the laws.”
While she supports the Second Amendment, Will also thinks it should be adapted to fit the world we live in today. “I think everything needs to evolve with the times and with where we are with technology,” said Will. “We had the very basics of foundations and I think our forefathers were thinking that as times change and progress that here’s the foundation but now you need to build on it to cover all your grounds.”
Justin DiBliase, Vice President of Safety & Security for Marist College’s Student Government Association, had an interesting take on the media’s portrayal of the gun control debate. His advice? Do your own research.
“My advice when it comes to coming up with your own position on gun control is don’t listen to the media. Go learn about firearms yourself before you start talking about it- I find too often that people would rather believe what they hear on TV than research for themselves both sides to the issue,” said DiBliase.
Although the student government association does not have any formal political affiliations, DiBliase believes that many people are not on the far right or the far left on this issue as the media tends to portray.
“From what I’ve seen, people for the most part tend to fall in the middle, and you don’t really get to see that side presented in the media. It’s always either the extreme left or the extreme right and I don’t think that’s representative of how real people feel about this issue,” said DiBliase.
Marist Political Club Leaders
Just as lawmakers prepared their reactionary speeches in Congress, student political groups readied their own talking points on college campuses.
“Too many people in our polarized society have this ‘all-or-nothing’ mentality right now, which is resulting in gridlock,” said Mike Yelovich, interim-president of Marist’s chapter of the libertarian group Young Americans for Liberty.
Yelovich refers to rival parties’ inabilities to agree upon the exact causes of these mass shootings, an undying subject that has seeped into Americans’ everyday lives while the debate rages on.
“Before we go a scream the anti-gun rhetoric as liberals, we should also be chanting mental health awareness and aid,” ” said Haley Critchfield, interim-president of the Marist Democrats, who also frequents Las Vegas and lives near San Bernardino. “Disheartening to know we are one of the countries with the highest percentage of depression, and we have the least amount of support for it.”
In a phrasing similar to Critchfield’s, Megan Peters, president of the Marist Republicans, agreed mental health to be a concern in these mass shooting tragedies while naming other probable causes long debated.
“We are a first world country…[and] a lot of the gun violence is in cities with gangs and black-market weapons,” said Peters. “Certain factors…attribute that to population density.
“The fact we are the only developed nation that has these types of shootings says something,” said Critchfield, referencing the phenomena of the United States’ gun violence statistics being unequaled when compared to other countries.
“A common argument [is that]…Australia has very strict gun laws…but their stabbings have shot up,” said Peters. “It’s the people and not the weapon.”
Critchfield, on the other hand, disagreed. “Always love the quote ‘don’t blame the gun,’” said Critchfield. “In Europe they’re open about sex, drugs, drinking…[there’s] the lowest percentage of death by alcohol and drunk driving.”
Sometimes it is difficult to isolate a specific cause in mass shootings as the list of potential causes more often than not come off as talking points for lawmakers.
“Everyone understands that there is a problem, but we cannot agree on what that problem is,” said Yelovich. “It is a sad reality because if we did figure out what the problem was — whether this be a mental health issue or a gun accessibility issue — I do not believe we would find any meaningful solutions in the near future.”
Local Hunter
Hunter and law enforcement student Matt Beck had a similar reaction when it came to gun control and its portrayal in the media.
“Guns don’t kill people. People kill people. 64,000 people die from drug overdoes in 2016. 501,325 deaths were due to abortion throughout the country. And 5,000 caused by a fire arm. The lists go on and on and are proven by statistics nationwide that guns are not the problem,” argued Beck.
EMS Responders
Daryl Medina, an EMT-B from Poughkeepsie, NY argued that gun dealers and distributors should be regulated just like how emergency services are starting to be regulated, which is either at state-level or federal-level.
“In terms of preventing shootings like this from happening I do think we need a nationwide background check that is regulated not at the state level but the federal level so there are no missing gaps in background checks from state to state.”
Another EMT-B Matteo Vitale, felt differently on the matter, suggesting that even if there were more regulations and legislative changes this would not decrease the likelihood of mass shootings.
“After every mass shooting, there is a stir within media and government. However, as time progresses, these shootings simply become more another statistic rather than an emotional narrative.” He continued, “These tragedies will not change anything, as history will tell us.”
Parents
After talking to local parents who spent their a fall afternoon at the Walkway Over the Hudson with their children, it became clear that events like Las Vegas have made them more aware of their surroundings and concerned for the safety of their families.
“It’s sad what is happening. Anything can happen at any time,” said Elizabeth Roman, mother of 1-year-old twins. “The people in Vegas were there to have a fun time and enjoy music. You just never know. You’re not safe anymore.”
“I think about events like Las Vegas often because I have a child in public school,” said Meredith Kuhnle, a mother from the Poughkeepsie area.
Most parents agree that the gun regulations within the country are too lax as is and believe there needs to be more control over who is buying the guns, how the guns are regulated and keeping track over owners.
“I blame the individuals that take the actions, and it’s a mental health issue on their part,” said Laura Sammarco, mother of an infant. “Banning guns won’t change anything because it’s our right to have them. I support stricter background checks and any security measures that could increase prevention.”
“In events like Las Vegas, it’s not fair to blame anyone in particular. It’s a broken system. It’s gun regulation,” said Jennifer A., mother of a 4-year-old girl and owner of a pistol permit. “We need more regulation that focuses on getting guns off the street. We need annual or bi-annual background checks on gun owners.”
Parents also expressed concerns stemming from violence commonly depicted as a form of entertainment. “Sometimes kids watch movies, cartoon or video games with portrayals of gun violence, and they learn how to do bad things,” Roman said. “Parents have to be careful. Even toy guns teach kids some aspect of how to kill.”
As for hopes for the future and prevention measures that can be taken to deter such acts of violence, parents are pessimistic. “At this point, there is nothing that can be done. Not until the laws change,” Jennifer A. said. “There is simply not enough man power. Not enough police officers. Not enough cameras. Not enough detection.”
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(The entire Groundhog staff, members of Marist’s Journalism Workshop Class contributed to this report)
