Sadly, it seems that these days, everywhere you turn, you can find a community that’s been terribly affected by gun violence. And after the tragedy at Umpqua Community College last week, the lasting sting has caused a stir at even the notion of a violent threat. Earlier this week, a violent threat posted to 4chan threatening an unspecified “university near Philadelphia” had students at my school, and many in the area, clamoring for classes to be cancelled, scared for what could have been. Fortunately, the situation turned out to be a hoax, but that didn’t change how truly afraid students were, and how I could literally feel the entire university hold its breath at 2 p.m., the alleged time of the attack.
The problem that we now face is that even in the face of gun violence, there’s hesitancy in Congress to move forward with any gun control. For citizens, it’s nearly impossible to discuss the issue without sounding partisan or political. Owning guns for protection, target shooting, and hunting is a proud tradition for many Americans, and as tragic as these shootings are, many of these people are fearful of having their Second Amendment rights trampled on. But as we sit, and further debate the issue, more gun violence is unfortunately occurring. The divide between whether or not we need to pass gun control exists, but unfortunately no real legislation of any kind does. Even if our nation as a whole is not quite ready right now to pass stricter gun control, there are certainly other kinds of preventative measures that can be taken by Congress in order to help the problem before we get to the point where we are able to pass stricter gun laws. Here are some examples.
1. Actually Talk About The Problem.
So many times, it feels like our government is unable or unwilling to discuss the problem of gun violence after a mass shooting occurs, for fear of “politicizing” it. They claim that the first few days after a shooting are meant for us to send our thoughts and prayers politic-free, and afterwards, it seems everything sort of moves on. If we don’t address the problem, not just in our thoughts and prayers, but in our actions, it won’t magically go away. If Congress was willing to put aside partisan politics in order to come up with a solution, the battle could be halfway over by now.
2. Recognize The Problem Is Multifaceted.
Like many complicated issues, one wave of the magic law-making wand will not solve the entire problem. Those clamoring for gun control on gun control need to know that passing even the strictest gun control will not stop those who already have the means and access to attain a weapon – gun or otherwise – to carry out mass killings. A deeper portion of the problem lies in the culture surrounding guns, and how to keep guns – and the mental thoughts of using one for terrible purposes – out of the wrong hands. Likewise, those clamoring for only more awareness surrounding guns and those who use them are missing an entire aspect of the problem. There is no one magic solution. We must work together to determine what works best.
3. Visit constituents who have been affected by gun violence.
We need to hear what their thoughts are, and in what ways it could have been prevented.
4. Instill More Gun Safety.
When I was learning to drive, my father always told me that driving a car is no different than holding a loaded weapon – if you don’t know how to properly use it, and aren’t trained to do so, you could potentially cause serious damage. He was right. In that matter, we have driving tests and licenses to promote car safety. While it isn’t perfect – car accidents still occur all of the time – the vast majority of people are able to own and operate one quite safely. What if we implemented similar safety measures for gun ownership?
5. Become Champions of Mental Health Awareness.
Many members of Congress who are disinterested in any form of gun control claim that mental health awareness is the solution. However, there is still a major lack of comprehensive mental health awareness amongst most people. There’s a tendency for many to not take mental illness seriously, and as a result, those who suffer from it are more likely to go under the radar. By having political leaders who are knowledgeable about mental illnesses, and who can advocate for more research and education in schools about it, the more we as a society will be equipped to understand and treat these cases before they progress out of control.
6. Stop Glorifying Gun Violence Perpetrators.
In my view, this is the simplest thing we can do. Numerous mass shooters have claimed to have found their inspiration from a previous mass shooter, who in turn was inspired by a previous one, and so on. When these tragedies occur, the media is quick to put their name and photos on blast until they are household names. When these people pull off these horrific acts with the intent on getting their 15 minutes of fame, wouldn’t it make sense for us to refrain from giving them what they want? I understand the media’s free speech, but imagine if the name and photo of a mass shooter (one who has been taken into custody or is otherwise incapacitated) weren’t plastered on your screen, and instead remained anonymous to the media. Wouldn’t that prevent other potential shooters looking for their time in this kind of spotlight?
7. Take Potential Threats Seriously.
I’ll admit, earlier this week I was one of the students asking my university to cancel classes in light of a potential threat. While this did not happen, security did have an extra presence on campus, and many professors chose not to penalize students for not coming to class. While I don’t want to live in a constant fear every time there’s a threat, these security measures need to be in place when this happens. If a threat is made to a local university or area, Congressmen and the government representing that area needs to be responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of its constituents. No one should feel unsafe in their own community.
8. Recognize the Common Goal.
Far, far too often, the issue we face becomes reduced to a political debate. Gun violence is a topic in which lives are at stake, and in which lives have been lost. Political bantering hardly advances us, especially when both sides refuse to budge. Unless our politicians are willing to work together and recognize what we all want – to prevent these tragic losses of life from occurring – sadly, not much will change.
