This recent Valentine's Day, in Parkland, Florida, 17 people were killed and 15 were injured due to a lone gunman with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. In the wake of this tragedy, high school students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have been advocating for gun control through a movement dubbed #NeverAgain. This movement has sparked national debate, and has exposed many facts and statistics that show the underlying cause for the disproportionate amount of American mass shootings in comparison to the international sphere. In the 52 days of 2018 alone, there have been seven school shootings. Since 2000, there have been 188 school shootings. In 1994, Congress banned the manufacturing of AR-15s, but the bill expired in 2004, and failed in the Senate to be reinstated. As of today, only 18 states require consumers to go through a background check before purchasing a firearm. On average, there is about 89 guns for every 100 people in the United States. In comparison, the next highest ranked country is Yemen, with 55 guns for every 100 people. The NRA, or National Rifle Association, donated more than $54 million to fund candidates throughout elections in 2016. $30 million of that went to Donald Trump, our current president.
1. What can be done in legislation that will make mass shootings less common and less deadly?
2. Do you believe that civilians need guns for self-defense, and if so, do you believe that civilians should have access to semi-automatics such as the AR-15, and that use of this weapon is justified in the protection of oneself?
3. The NRA has immense financial power in the political sphere, resulting in inaction of congress for gun safety laws. What can be done to combat that, since politicians rely on money to campaign and run for office?
1. What can be done in legislation that will make mass shootings less common and less deadly?
2. Do you believe that civilians need guns for self-defense, and if so, do you believe that civilians should have access to semi-automatics such as the AR-15, and that use of this weapon is justified in the protection of oneself?
3. The NRA has immense financial power in the political sphere, resulting in inaction of congress for gun safety laws. What can be done to combat that, since politicians rely on money to campaign and run for office?
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ReplyDeleteI definitely think that legislation could impose stricter gun control and more gun laws put into place. An example is instead of only 18 out of 50 states to require background checks, legislation could then push for all 50 states to require them. Legislation should also push for a mental health test before granting someone their license to own a firearm, as well as annual checkups thereafter.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with more screening before being able to purchase a firearm. I feel that the notion of protecting oneself is something that can be relieved, but not by using a gun. There are alternative ways of have protection that doesn't include carrying a weapon. There is a fine line between having a gun and knowing how to use one. One may argue that the second amendment gives ALL citizens the right to carry a firearm, but it shouldn't. There are restrictions on drugs and driving because if they aren't managed correctly then they can be harmful to others, this is the same for firearms. The NRA will loose money if there are restriction on who can purchase a firearm, that's why they're investing in political figures to protect them. That $54 million cost the lives of 17 people last week.
DeleteI agree with Caitlyn and Kelsey's ideas towards a better gun control system; we can all agree that issues, especially involving mass shootings in schools, are very multifaceted. Not only does it certainly impact the city and school districts, but on a state and federal level as well. It seems that in many school shootings today, many perpetrators such as the one in Parkland figure out, from experience, how to sidestep security measures. For instance, it turns out that the man with the gun at the Parkland high school escaped unnoticed due to a surveillance camera being delayed by 26 minutes at the time. Rather than creating more security upgrades for schools, our government must shift their security policy to gun control laws, such as those requiring a gunsmith to do background checks, not sell certain rifles like the AR-15 that have been responsible for mass shootings, etc. But those methods have been attempted without much success, as much still needs to be done in order to get the NRA to budge, especially with the millions of dollars they are continually spending to get endorsements and stay in business. The legislature on gun control will need to work out a treaty with the NRA in order to ensure reasonable limitations on the sale or manufacturing of firearms for the safety of everybody. But currently, it is still unclear how the treaty will work out.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with the idea of a treaty between legislation and the NRA is that the NRA has a ridiculous amount of funds, possibly enough to sway an entire group or prominent politician. Many would say, "just get rid of their funding" but its not that easy. They get most of their money through donations, which are practically impossible to deny since they are voluntary and given by people all over the country. The only way to combat this would be to somehow change the mindset of millions of people. As for self-protection, rifles such as the infamous AR-15 is just way too much overkill. At most people should be allowed a handgun, or a hunting rifle or shotgun if they hunt often. Unless you are facing multiple offenders at once, a handgun should suffice for a small-scale attack.
DeleteA way that legislation can lead to a better gun control system to prevent less shooting are to help students in schools that do have problems, and a security check for students once in a while. Yes, we can pass laws that can put others to prison for illegal weapons. But, it does not mean it will influence others to not do the same as well. There are so many people in areas that have connections to illegal weapons and will continue to purchase without question. So, schools like I said for the start, should try and help each individual to prevent students from harming others because of whats happened in the past.
ReplyDeleteThe legislation definitely—as many others have already pointed out—should imposed stricter gun control, gun laws, and screening. In addition, the legislation should impose tests for one to be able to get a gun (permit), and have theses tests regularly—or annually as Caitlyn suggested—to ensure those with guns are still “fit” to have them. The purpose of the army and the police is to keep civilians safe, which makes keeping guns for self-defense unnecessary, and even if they need to defend themselves, they should not have to use such a destructive weapon as semi-automatics. As Uinise had pointed out, some people have access to illegal weapons, and will purchase without question, meaning restricting access to guns such as semi-automatics is not going to solve that facet of the problem. Some ways to combat the NRA, who is preventing restrictions such as these from being passed, is through (public) pressure, or, as Brian suggested, to negotiate with the NRA.
ReplyDeleteI think the hardest part about the gun control issue is how deeply guns are rooted into US history. The 2nd amendment was put in place at a time where guns were absolutely necessary for self-defense, and, as time has gone on, people have refused to relinquish their rights, which is understandable as people don't like having their rights taken away. However, as everyone has stated, the law should be modified so that assault weapons are illegal because assault weapons are absolutely not necessary for self-defense, even if smaller guns make sense and can never be banned considering our history. However, mentally challenged people should never have access to guns as we have seen too many shootings result from not having this type of control that seems like common sense.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with the above comments about gun control. The second amendment was put in place to ensure that civilians would be armed to rise against a tyrannical government. For many, second amendment rights are a symbol of America's freedom. However, gun control should definitely be more strictly enforced (like keeping electronic records like the NRA has lobbied the TAF from doing, conducting yearly mental health and proficiency tests, and making it harder to get a gun license than to get a driver's license). This would not prevent black market firearms from slipping into the wrong hands. Neither would it prevent unlicensed carriers from stealing arms from legal, law-abiding citizens. However, enforcing these rules and banning semi- to fully-automatic assault weapons would definitely make it harder for an event like this to occur in the future. On that note, a citizen does not need automatic assault weapons for self defense, at least in my opinion. The rate of fire those types of weapons entail is, for lack of a better term, “overkill.”
ReplyDeleteThe NRA needs to be restrained. Its lobby is far too powerful, and its hand in politics is simply unacceptable. However, I am unsure of how they can be combated outside of limiting the amount of money they are allowed to contribute (which no sane lawmaker would do if they value their position). Perhaps if a strong anti-gun lobby were to gain an equal financial foothold with the American government (meaning they donate as much as the NRA), the two factions could balance. However, I find that prospect unlikely. Anti-gun supporters have to argue policy. Pro-gun supporters simply have to say “no.”
(As an aside, I agree that the events in Parkland, Florida were horrifying and require action. HOWEVER, policy should NEVER be passed too soon after a tragic, high-emotion event. That does NOT mean lawmakers should continue putting off action like they have done following these events in the past. It means they should assure action WILL be taken and follow through on that. Once the situation has calmed, rational legislation should be debated, reviewed over a reasonable period of time, and passed. High-emotion situations birth sloppy and problematic legislation that will have to be dealt with for years to come.)
The only solution to school shootings is to implement gun control. Background checks, wait times, outlawing purchases at gun shows, gun licenses with more difficult tests, banning assault weapons and any way of modifying a weapon to become an assault weapon. No one with a prior felony conviction should be allowed to purchase a gun, and you must be at least 21 to purchase even the most basic weapon. None of these policies would majorly affect national gun ownership, yet they could save thousands of lives. There are also ways to ensure that politicians in the pockets of the NRA aren't voted into office, like forcing them to disclose donations or enforcing maximum campain donations from a single source. In addition, like we are seeing now, the NRA is being pressured by their buisness partners to stop lobbying with such extremity. In our obsessively capitalist society, money is the only way to reach the NRA. No matter what, something must be done. No student should have to go to school and fear for their life.
ReplyDeleteI think that there should be more stricter guns laws. This is a direct result of the gun laws that are supposed to protect other people. There should be a rise in the age that can purchase guns. Too many shootings involve teenagers that don´t posses the emotional intelligence to handle an arm. The age should rise up to 25. According to scientists it takes 25 years for a person to reach full maturity.
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