When the Second Amendment was ratified on Dec. 15, 1791, the Founding Fathers had no idea that over 200 years later, America would suffer 6,886 incidents of gun violence . . . killing 1,781 people and injuring 3,475 all in the first two months of 2016. Just this week, America saw another instance of tragic violence as a professor was killed on the UCLA campus, only for the murderer to turn the gun on himself.
Many people firmly insist that the right to bear arms is an inviolable part of the American experience. This right is indisputable, characteristic of the average citizen's ability to protect oneself, and guaranteed to incite a heated conversation if brought up.
If the Second Amendment is so sacred, why are we continuing to bring this up?
A police officer, Army veteran and mother of two were shot to death at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic on Nov. 27, 2015 by a man who claimed to be "upset with [the clinic] performing abortions and the selling of baby parts,” even though abortions represent 3 percent of total services provided by Planned Parenthood. He had a right to firearms though, right?
Who could forget the horrific murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 28 people dead, including 20 children whose parents dropped them off at school that morning with no idea what would ensue? Young lives were ripped away from children and school employees, left to waste along with three guns: a .223 caliber “Bushmaster” rifle and two pistols, a Sig Sauer and a Glock.
July 20, 2012: As a theatre of people enjoyed the newly released movie "The Dark Knight Rises," they were suddenly assaulted with gunfire as yet another white male entered a public setting and fired an AR-15 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and at least one of two .40-caliber handguns into the unsuspecting crowd, killing 12 people and wounding 70. The guns that were used to take the lives of a dozen people and forever impact the lives of countless others were purchased legally at two sporting goods stores, along with over 6,000 rounds of ammunition purchased online.
If you cannot see a problem with the availability of dangerous weapons in the United States of America, you are probably clinging too tightly to an outdated amendment that is causing more harm than good in today's world. Many Americans continue to insist, despite despicable events like these, that the average citizen is entitled to such weapons.
By no means, however, should guns be outlawed... but some form of action must occur.
The racially-motivated murders of nine churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina were carried out with legally acquired firearms. After passing a background check, despite previous arrests, the shooter was able to obtain the .45-caliber handgun used to commit the violent crimes. Just how easy is it for potential murderers (or the average citizen) to purchase a weapon? It is estimated that 98 percent of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a gun store, according to a 2013 analysis by Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
Guns can be legally purchased from the following sources: a gun store, pawn shop, gun show, the internet and even from a friend or family member. Background checks are required for sales at gun stores and transactions over the internet. However, they are not instated in private transactions nor are they present at gun shows. These multiple loopholes allow guns to fall into many citizen's hands, some of which will later end up pulling the trigger on innocent victims in public spaces and learning institutions alike. Most background checks take only minutes over a computer, and these precautions are not always foolproof either. Currently, in most states, a gun dealer can complete a sale after three days even if the background check is not finished. In the case of private transactions between family and friends, one individual without a criminal record or a history that would otherwise prevent him/her from purchasing a gun can acquire the firearm and pass it along to an individual who cannot pass the background check. These loopholes are deadly and allow space for murderers and criminals to pass through undetected.
While guns have and will continue to protect some citizens from home invasions and other forms of assaults, a law-abiding citizen with no criminal history is often hard to spot, especially if a murderer has no previous record. A proposal is for background checks to become more extensive and for the availability of legal guns to be minimized seems in order. The Prevention Institute calls for several restrictions and solutions to out current epidemic: establishing a culture of gun safety, advocating mental health treatment, reducing children's exposure to violence, enacting sensible gun laws, strengthening community safety and public health solutions, and allowing the CDC to offer further recommendations on the matter.
Restrictive laws and practices do not signal the death of personal liberty and the increased control of the government over the American citizen, especially since one could argue that the average citizen risks being gunned down at school, movie theaters, health clinics, church and many other spaces. Guns can still be made available legally to those with nothing to hide. If you are not a criminal and have legal intentions with a firearm, such as personal safety or hunting, there is no reason to protest a sensible crackdown on gun sales.
Furthermore, why does a working-class man need a military-grade weapon or a high capacity machine if his intentions with the firearm are for protection or hunting? Other handguns and rifles can suit these legal needs excellently... an assault rifle is not meant to be in the hands of a common man or woman. These weapons are meant for combat in war, and were unthinkable at the time the Second Amendment was passed. The field guns and rifles that existed at the time were considered by the Founding Fathers, not weapons such as M16s and AK rifles. According to the National Firearms Act, any fully automatic weapon made before 1986 is actually fair game for those who wish to purchase it.
As mass shootings continue to plague our nation and selfish citizens continue to insist that their rights to own weapons trump the safety of our country, more and more people will grow tired of faulty policies and the government's inability to curb these statistics. Illegal firearms and weapons will always exist and will be acquired despite legal restrictions, but when other nations watch helplessly as America sinks deeper into a pit of chaos and murder, people begin to wonder: what's different here? Is there something about America's gun situation that makes it one of the deadliest in the world? Is there anything we can do to move toward a nation that addresses its violence and offers solutions? How many children will lose their lives to unchecked murderers in learning institutions that were supposed to protect and educate them? How many innocent people will walk down the street and end up critically injured in a pool of blood before they know what is happening? What will it take for our country to move away from a favoring for guns and focus on our society's well-being?
Guess we'll have to wait for the next mass shooting.
