Rachel Scott was murdered on April 20th, 1999 while eating lunch with a friend outside of Columbine High School. Anne Marie Murphy was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary while attempting to shield her students from gunfire. Peter Wang was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School while holding the door for other students to escape Nikolas Cruz's senseless rage. His honorable and selfless sacrifice earned the JROTC cadet military honors at his funeral. These innocent people were murdered by deranged, remorseless killers.

In the wake of their deaths, many in America have called for a change in gun laws, and the debate has only intensified in recent years. It seems that half the country wants stricter gun laws, while the other half do not. Now while there are fair points on both sides of the argument, this debate will never be resolved the way things are going. We need to find some middle ground on this argument if anyone hopes to make any change.

To start, I want to address those who are pro-gun reform. I catch a lot of grief from some of my more conservative friends when I say this, but I agree with you. I agree that there is a need for stricter background checks and mental health assessments before anyone is allowed to purchase a firearm. However, where we split is the proposed ban on semi-automatic weapons.

Now do I believe that the "ordinary" United States citizen needs an AR-15? Probably not; however it is their constitutional right to own the weapon. The Second Amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms. And while this was written when people only owned single shot muskets, the amendment was also written to protect citizens against the possibility of a tyrannical government rising.

As it says, "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state...". And for those who propose gun bans and confiscations, this will have the opposite effect of what you want. It will disarm law-abiding citizens while keeping criminals armed.

Now, for those who are completely against any sort of gun reform, you need to wake up and smell the coffee. The past 20 years have provided example after example of why we need to make a change. From Columbine, Sandy Hook, Las Vegas, and Chicago, we have seen the detrimental effects of what easy access to guns allow people to do. What is needed is better background checks, a more efficient system of keeping tabs of those on the FBI watch list, and we need registration.

There is no reason that a teenager should be able to walk into a store and purchase a high powered rifle! We need to take measures against the private sale of firearms, especially at gun shows. This is not about the government stepping in and interfering in your life, this is about an unregulated system that allows any adult to purchase a firearm. This is how the Columbine shooters acquired their weapons, and it is a system that needs to properly regulated before it can be allowed to continue.

I know several responsible gun owners, and I can tell you right now, the guns are not the problem, it is people. I have shot several firearms, and an AR-15 is one of them. When I fired the rifle, there was no "inner killer" in me that wanted to come out. Honestly, I was half terrified as I was amazed by the power of the rifle. What we need is better background checks, proper observations for the individuals who are on the FBI watchlist, and we need to educate people on firearms.

Whether you are republican or democrat, we all want people to live. And unless we push for our politicians to stop treating these issues like a chess game, where they're just trying to spite each other, nothing is going to change.

BE THE CHANGE!