Every few months the country hears the horrific news that yet another mass shooting has erupted in one of our countries schools, churches, movie theaters or other densely populated venues. This news fills us with anger and sadness. We ask ourselves why would someone commit these heinous acts? Who is to blame for this?
People flood their social media accounts with anti-gun rhetoric and demand policy change. Second amendment advocates fight back with counter rhetoric, defending their rights to bear arms.
The mainstream media uses these tragedies to push their agenda on gun control. Gun advocate organization known as the NRA has recently been portrayed as the sole reason for these horrible acts.
Guns definitely are a factor contributing to these mass shootings, but they are not the factor.
Let’s not overlook our country’s mental health crises which has played a significant role in these massacres. Guns have been around since the United States was established in 1776; mass shootings have become a serious issue over the past twenty to thirty years.
Gun homicides have been on the decline while mass shootings have been inclining.
With mass shootings on the rise, as well as mental illness, it’s not hard to recognize a correlation between the two. Deranged mass shooters such as James Holmes, Dylan Roof, Stephen Paddock, Devin Patrick Kelley, and recent Stoneman Douglas High shooter Nikolas Cruz, all suffer or have suffered from some sort of mental illness.
Suicide makes up almost ⅔ of all gun-related deaths and is currently at an all-time high among adults and adolescents. Most people -if not all the people- who are taking their life via gun, are suffering from a mental illness.
While the media is always quick to point their finger at the NRA, they fail to mention the correlation between psychotropic drugs and the mass shooters consuming them. Or the fact that pharmaceutical agencies have donated close to 2.6 billion to Congress and other lobbyist organizations, over the past 10 years.
When these mass shootings crop up gun laws are always presented but never executed.
Specific gun laws, such as better background checks and restricting access to specific military-style guns both seem like rational policies that the two parties could get behind. But, some people pride themselves on owning military-style guns. Why not regulate access to military-style guns so people can only shoot them at ranges and keep the gun locked up at the range?
Raising the age to 21 might also be something to consider when implementing new gun policies. It’s clear modern teenagers are not mature enough to handle or carry a concealed weapon. With a generation of kids who occupy their day consumed with violent video games, gun companies have geared their marketing strategies to appeal to adolescents.
For schools with armed and trained security guards occupying the entrances, this may work as a temporary or long-term solution.It’s unfortunate that it has come to this but if this policy saves at least one life it is well worth it.
If we were to end the war on drugs it would reduce gun violence and help stop institutional racism. Data shows that outside of suicide, most gun homicides are due to gang-related violence.Gun deaths relating to gang violence is much higher than mass shootings.
The war on drugs is imprisoning and taking the lives of Mexican and Black Americans at a rapid rate. Eliminating this war would decrease gun violence within rival gangs who compete with customers over drug sales. Drug trafficking brings in more than $750 Billion each year. Most of these illegal drug sales are carried out by gangs which are leading to murder and incarceration.
When a mass shooting occur, the media often shows broad gun fatality statistics with the intention of ‘proving’ to the American people that guns are bad and are killing people. The media never dive into the statistics to show us the cause of death, the gun that was used, or if the gun was legal or illegal.
The media loves to report on gun deaths in countries like Japan, UK, Australia, and Germany, while preaching to the American people how reducing guns and implementing more regulations will result in less gun related deaths.
Media coverage fails to show the correlation between gun regulations and murder rates. Yes, reducing or regulating guns will result in fewer gun deaths, but does it reduce violent crimes?Studies throughout major cities in the US show that more gun regulations do not prevent violent crimes. But keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, criminals, and alcoholics have shown to reduce violent crimes, data suggest.
Personally, I never plan to own a gun nor do I plan on hunting any animals. I think hunting is barbaric and guns don’t appeal to me. However, unlike Japan, UK, Australia, and Germany, The United States is the land of the free. Limited regulations, with the freedoms to do what you want. Freedom to speak your political opinion, freedom to drink alcohol, freedom to smoke cigarettes, and yes, the freedom to own a gun.
