Trigger Warning: Gun violence
Only days after the horrible Christchurch massacre that occurred last weekend in New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that the entire Cabinet has agreed on gun reform to protect the citizens of their state. As an American who quite literally lives in fear of being shot and killed every time I step out onto my college campus, go to the movies or even sit in my own house, this news makes me inspired and also discouraged.
There's no question that the United States has a gun violence problem. The number of mass shootings increases every year, and every day more than 100 Americans are killed by a gun. I remember Sandy Hook like it was yesterday, and I was in high school when Parkland happened. Both times, I felt extreme sadness for the victims that were literally kids, and anger that nothing had changed.
Although the 2018 midterm election brought in a wave of politicians who support gun control, I can't help but think it's not enough. Our government is still so divided that barely anything can be done. The CDC isn't allowed to research gun violence and its effects on public health. The NRA continues to sponsor very influential figures and keep them from thinking about our safety. Sure, you can and should be able to have your second amendment right, but you do not need a military grade assault rifle to defend yourself against someone.
I'm tired that I've become desensitized to gun violence and its prevalence in the news. When Mike Brown was shot back in 2014, I was scared and disgusted by the footage I saw. And now it's so common that it's easier to just scroll past. We've given mass shooters notoriety and failed to tighten our gun laws, to the point where it's not even surprising when another massacre happens. What does this mean for the future of our country? Why can't we take a page out of Jacinda's book and think about public safety while ignoring the desires for attention from those who are committing these terrible deeds?
On the other hand, we must continue to elect politicians who value civilian lives over money. How many more shootings is it going to take before our government realizes the severity of this issue? How many more Onion articles will have the heading, "Only Way To Prevent This, Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens"? Even though I have no idea how long it will take, nothing is impossible. New Zealand could do it. Australia and the UK did it. And hopefully, sooner than later, the United States will follow in their footsteps and create a slightly safer world for the next generation to live in.
