Are We Even Debating Guns Anymore?

By Sarah Brezenski

Since the deadliest shooting of 2018 killed 17 in Parkland, Florida, the debate surrounding guns has flared up again in full fury. The occurrence of school shootings, followed by a bitter debate between gun regulation and Second Amendment advocates is not new, and the bigotry and hatred thrown by both left and right supports is becoming all too familiar.

Many Americans are getting lost in the ensuing war of words. It’s as though they overlook the fact that both sides care about the children and teachers who are dying.

Has the debate surrounding guns overshadowed those lives that have been lost?

Thousands were involved in the recent march on March 24th in multiple cities across the US and in international locations to advocate for gun regulation legislation. The march was organized by the survivors of the Parkland shooting. In Washington DC, Lily Ghiz, ’20, staff writer for The Herald, participated in the march with her family. Ghiz and her mother expressed that they were wary of the political stance the march was taking but she said, “The overall feeling was, these people have been though horrendous things, they’ve seen horrendous things. This is an issue that plagues students and families and people every single day and they just want their voices to be heard.”

On March 14th, one month following the Parkland shooting, hundreds of students across the US participated in school walkouts and 17 minutes of silence to honor the victims. Hundreds of students bowed their heads in respect for the families who have suffered and for the lives that were lost. Some of these students participated despite the negative repercussions inflicted upon them by school officials.

As awful as the event of a school shooting is, they have occurred for decades. Often minds turn to one of the most devastating, the Columbine Shooting. It took place in Colorado 1999 and resulted in the death of 13. But this wasn’t the first of such events. As early as the mid 1800s, guns and schools have crossed paths in violent collision.

It is undeniable however that new and modern technology have changed the game and drastically increased the destructive capacity of each encounter.

It seems that in response to each devastating occurrence, right and left supporters alike take to the streets and media outlets to push for political solutions. Some advocate for gun regulation, while others claim such regulations trample constitutional rights. The complexity of gun laws and rights have a deep rooted history, making a solution even harder to find.

Owning guns as a natural right is included in the Bill of Rights as the Second Amendment. It states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

The debate over what this means has become progressively bitter and vicious but, in the legal sphere, is surprisingly recent.

It wasn’t until 2008 that the Supreme Court significantly addressed the issue. The case, District of Columbia v Heller, arose because of a law in Washington DC, which included a restriction on loaded handguns in homes. The Court ruled the law unconstitutional and declared that the Amendment is an individual right, unrelated to military service and includes the owning of guns in common use for hunting, sport and self-defense.

However, to ease the hearts of gun regulation advocates, this law is not unrestricted. The Court stated, “The right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited.” They continued, “We are aware of the problem of [gun] violence in this country, and we take seriously the concerns raised by the many … who believe that prohibition of [gun] ownership is the solution.” They acknowledged the problem the country faced and continues to face, yet still upheld this right that has always been precious to many Americans.

This right has had significant impact in American history. The issue of guns has been around since America’s birth, in fact, the first battle of The American Revolution at Lexington and Concord was a result of conflict over guns and ammunition. Thus it is understandable why the Founding Fathers included the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights; it was with this right of individually owned guns that early Americans conquered the greatest military power of the 18 century.

Like the tradition of gun ownership, the tradition of protesting in defense for or against laws and rights is also nothing new. Americans have taken to the streets over issues from segregation and civil rights to abortion and homosexuality.

To some extent, all of these, and everything in between, have become vicious and demeaning on both sides.

Certainly many are well-meaning and courteous advocates, but as is portrayed in the media, it hasn’t stayed kind or courteous. It is when the issue stops addressing rights and begins tearing at the opposition that these debates take on a new and ugly form of their own. Have Americans forgotten that both sides care about the lives that have been lost and the blood that has been shed? Has the debate of gun regulation and Second Amendment rights blinded people to the fact that children are dying?

It is as if both sides are using the events of school shootings to push a political agenda.

Many spit aggressive slurs and carry signs that demonize those with opposing views. And the media is in no small way helping to fuel the flames; just take a look at the news, hateful accusations ooze from the headlines with enough venom to make a reader nauseous.

How has the privilege of protest fallen so far? Will the bigotry and hatred end?

Aung San Suu Kyi, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her work in Burma said, “If you want to bring an end to long-standing conflict, you have to be prepared to compromise.” And that is what Americans seem to have forgotten. They’ve forgotten the great moments of compromise, they’ve forgotten that this country exists because people came together, gave something up to gain something greater and the end result was the freedoms so many have enjoyed for so long. And that’s what must be done again. If this devastating and all too regular occurrence of school violence is going to end, then both sides have to come together.

The question remains then, how is this done with a highly politicized issue that has a history of decades of deeply venomous hostility?

What do you think?