Gun violence: Prediction, Prevention, and Policy

In 2015, around 14, 000 people died from gun violence. 693 were children from ages 0-11. We can all agree that this needs to be addressed. Gun violence is out of control. There is an increase of mass murders occurring everywhere due to guns that relates to mass shootings at schools. The solution to this problem should be: Mandatory training and licensing along with more heavily secure gun storage, stricter regulations on the purchasing of a firearm, disabilities and criminal records should be more deeply looked into before transaction, and finally, equipping teachers at high schools with the right kind of weaponry to prevent mass shootings.

Gun control has been a hot topic in the United States for quite some time now. Mass shootings are very devastating crimes and people are trying to take action upon it. Many people believe that we should ban guns, which is ‘the devices that let semi-automatic rifles fire faster rounds’ (Jason Silverstein) Another law that has been passed is called the Firearms Restraining Order Act, it is a system that can take away firearms from anybody that has a questionable past or is considered unhealthy or dangerous to themselves or others.

The way our society is now, high schools are overtaken by social media, everything can be seen by many people and very fast. So, if you post a threat or even a fake threat that you think is a joke police will get involved very quickly. Also, with this new law in effect, adults or teenagers that have mental issues will not be allowed to have possession of a firearm, or anything of that sort. The ban on bumpstocks will not necessarily cutdown on shootings, but it could affect the number of casualties in the shootings. With the ban of devices, semi-automatic guns will not shoot as fast, so it will allow victims to have more time to run and escape from the scene. My first thought on gun control is that you can not just ban guns, because just like every other thing that is illegal, people will find a way to break the law and find a way to get it. My second thought is that everyone thinks the problem is the guns. It is not. It is the people. We have a tendency to blame the gun and not the person. The gun does not pull the trigger itself. The person has to pull the trigger. I think teachers, administration, and any other adults in the school should have the choice to carry a gun in the school. There are obviously some concerns. Schools should do background checks on every teacher and make sure they have a violent past that would put the students in the school in danger. I believe that if teachers and administration are allowed to carry guns in school, the amount average of mass shootings will decrease a good amount.

On Tuesday January 5th, 2016 President Obama announced that he would send proposals on beginning to end gun violence in the United States to Congress. His spokesman, Jay Carney, mentioned that this is ‘a complex problem that will require a complex solution.’ The ability to own a firearm is considered by some a birthright of Americans. However, with crime rates involving handguns rising each day it has become quite clear. Handgun laws must become stricter in order to reduce homicide and crime. The question is, ‘which solution is most effective in dropping gun violence?’ Gun control is a major conflict that is constantly recurring and the US is seemingly divided over it. “A well regulated militia, being mandatory to the security of a free State, the right of all the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” These are the words of the second amendment. Many Americans think that the second amendment needs to be ratified as some people are taking advantage of this right. To start with, training and licensing should be mandatory for any individual looking to purchase and shoot a firearm. Accidental deaths due to guns is a very prominent thing in America and the main cause behind this is because of untrained gun owners and untaught children. I feel there should be some type of process to buy a gun. If you have a mental illness or a violent past you should not be able to own a gun.