Gun. Control. Now.

Before you assume me to be some sort of hyper-partisan political aficionado on the fringe, let's get one thing out of the way: no. I am not suggesting that we ban guns. I am not suggesting that the Second Amendment be revoked. But I do want gun control. More than what we have right now. I believe, more than anything, that an American has the right to feel safe, that they have the right not to be killed and not to become a mere statistic from gun violence. Everybody who died in Las Vegas, Orlando, Sandy Hook, and more, had a right to not become a statistic. They had the right to live and breathe and exist. And that right deserves protection. The right to be safe and feel safe is fundamental, crucial, and vital to a functioning democracy.

I know what you might say. Laws won't stop bad people from getting guns.

To that comment, after taking a sigh of frustration, I say this: no law has been 100% successful in preventing an evil behavior. Yet still, that is no reason to revoke laws banning murder, rape, and thievery. Laws intend to guide societal behavior and promote safety. Even if they are not 100% successful, they are very efficient, and would aid in the prevention of gun-related tragedy.

I could throw some statistics your way, such as that the United States has a gun homicide rate near 25% higher than the average for high-earning countries. But I assume you have already read such statistics, right, before developing a cohesive argument and taking a stance?

If you are convicted of multiple DUIs, you can have your driver's license revoked. If you go above the speed limit, you could get a ticket and have to pay a fine.

Meanwhile, if a gun seller is federally licensed, they have to run background checks. But not all gun sellers need to be licensed. Thus, some can sell guns without conducting background checks.

Did that sink in? You need a driver's license to drive a car. But to own a gun, you may not need to undergo a background check. How frustrating and utterly baffling. In what way, may I ask, is a background check an infringement upon the Second Amendment? Is the requirement of getting a driver's license an infringement upon your right to drive?

I really don't understand the divisiveness surrounding gun control debates. If nobody is arguing to ban guns, and are merely asking for increased regulation, you do not get to scream of infringement of rights. You know who had their rights infringed upon? The people who die in mass shootings. The people who die because an evil person had their hands on a weapon designed to kill and to injure. It's them who deserve better protection of rights.

So, to put it simply, Gun. Control. Now.