March for our lives

​By Camille

Another day, another devastating mass shooting that claims the lives of one too many. When will it stop? When will my fellow Americans realize that this is not something that should occur so often? When will my politicians step up and fight to create gun control laws that could stop these shootings from happening? I have never felt so angry and helpless in a situation, it almost feels as though the democracy we’re promised isn’t really a democracy after all. 

If you’re looking for an article that discusses both sides of the argument on gun control, this is not the article for you. I firmly stand with heavier gun regulations, and this article comes from a place of anger. I have heard too many excuses on why people deserve to keep their guns, especially automatic assault weapons. We tell ourselves over and over again that this mass shooting will be the last, I feel as though we are broken records. 

I should not know the names or faces of victims of gun violence. Their faces should not burn behind my eyelids every time I close my eyes. They should still be here, they did nothing to deserve the horrific end to their story. 

To those who may not live in America, I understand your potential lack of frustration or knowledge with the American government. There isn’t much you can do besides sharing infographics in hopes of reaching out to Americans. But, I believe this conversation is essential for everyone because we deserve all the criticism in the world for allowing this to happen. I hope other countries see the amount of gun violence we face and uphold the gun restrictions that they have. 

I could write a lot about this topic. Even though I haven’t experienced a mass shooting, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t stick up for the potential victims of gun violence. Nobody (especially students) should live in fear about whether they’ll be able to go home to their families. 

What is gun control?
Gun control is undoubtedly the biggest thing our politicians can do to curb the mass shootings happening. I realize a lot of Americans are against this because it infringes on their 2nd Amendment, the right to bear arms, in simpler terms, the right to have guns. Gun control, in broad terms, is the regulations of the manufacture, sale, modification, transfer, and use of guns by civilians. Different people support different extremes of gun control. Some want to ban all guns, some want a harder process for purchasing guns, and some want to ban certain guns. 

Personally, I support the ban on all automatic assault weapons. According to data shared by Everytown Research, 16% of the mass shootings from 2009-2020 included an assault weapon. While that number seems relatively low, these shootings had higher fatality rates and were far more deadly than the shootings that only involved handguns. Unless there is a specific reason as to why one might need an automatic assault rifle, no one should own one. 

Despite there being different opinions on how strict gun control should be, most Americans can agree that we face an epidemic that no other country does. A country that allows too much freedom surrounding guns faces countless murders of innocent people who should still be here. If we cannot agree on banning certain guns then I certainly call for a long and extensive process for obtaining a gun—especially with those that are automatic and do a lot more damage than handguns.

Below, I have compiled a list of what gun companies should consider before selling a gun to someone. These are not derived from what I personally think and what I have seen from others online.

• Mental health evaluations
  • A lot of the time, the people who commit these heinous crimes have been suffering from mental health issues/problems. However, I am not making an excuse for their actions. Healthcare (physical, mental, etc.) should be free to everyone. But that’s an article for another day. 
• Advocation from 2-3 people
  • 2-3 people need to speak for the buyer and give the gun seller an honest opinion on whether or not that particular person needs a gun. These people need to know the buyer personally. 
• Gun training
  • A person will need to commit a certain amount of hours to learn about the gun they want and how to use it.
• Proof (if applicable)
  • If they are purchasing a handgun, then they do not need proof as to why they might need one. However, if it is a gun that is automatic and does an extensive amount of damage, then that person will need to submit proof as to why they might need that gun (for example, if they hunt they need to provide a hunting license). 
• Meet with a gun professional
  • Talk with someone who knows guns well to see which gun fits you best. 
• Combat toxic gun culture
  • A lot of people think that owning a gun means you are a strong, masculine, and patriotic person. That’s not true. Owning a gun just means you own a weapon that can be used to protect yourself, or harm others. 

While these are just to name a few, most Americans can agree that we need to take action so no one else will need to get hurt.

After the events at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, there is no doubt that America is under scrutiny once again for an event that could have been prevented. Many Americans are angry with their politicians as they seek to carry out bills to harm transgender people than bills that will save more people from gun violence. I will discuss this more in my next article.

 Guns are a very serious topic that too many Americans deal with nonchalance. As Americans, we need to push for these bills that will enforce stricter gun control that can save the lives of many from unwarranted gun violence. No one should fear for their lives, whether it’s in a grocery store or school. It’s time we take back our lives and stand up to the toxic gun control in America.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline

• As I mentioned before, mental health is another topic to consider when discussing gun control. 

CheckPoint

• This website offers links to helplines around the world. 

Everytown

• While it isn’t a helpline, it is a fantastic website to click on to learn more about gun violence.

Prevention Institute

• Another website that is very educational on the topic of gun violence.