There seems to be an overwhelming problem with guns lately. With a mass shooting, a musical sensation murdered in cold blood and other countless murders across the U.S. daily, it needs to stop, It isn’t something that political candidates should be capitalizing on. Gun violence will be an issue regardless of who takes office in January. We need a solution and doing nothing isn’t an option.
Surrounding this controversy is the roundabout debate of if guns kill people or if people kill people. Does it really matter? I mean think about it. One of the first pieces of information sought after a shooting is whether or not the gunman was mentally stable or not. When the reality is the result is the same regardless if there is an illness or not. People of all races, genders, ages and orientations are dying. And the guns aren’t shooting themselves.
As Americans we are passionate about our rights stated in the Constitution. The Second Amendment was adopted in 1791 as a part of the Bill of Rights, at a time when Americans were fighting for the common good not the common bathroom. This amendment was intended to protect us as a whole, not drive a wedge in between us. Yet because of the permission to bare arms, we feel entitled to keep guns in our possession.
According to the Australian Former Prime Minister, John Howard, as a country they had gun control laws put in nearly 12 weeks following a mass shooting in 1996. Since then, not only have they had zero mass shootings but they have also experienced a decline in their homicide and suicide rates. Even though some conservatives were against the regulation at first, they have learned to appreciate the value of having these laws.
Living in a nation with decreased suicide rates and no mass shootings is the new “American Dream." It’s time we all stop pointing fingers in different directions and work on finding a solution. Americans thinking they are better than countries like Australia is ignorant. I’m not saying we will need the exact same solution, but we need a solution. We need a society where people can agree that lives are most important.
