Preventing Mass Shootings

Last Wednesday, a troubled 19 year old opened fire at a Florida High School, killing 17 people and injuring many others. Families will now have to grieve for the rest of their lives for their children, kids will have to grieve for their siblings, students will have to grieve for their friends, and every single student in that school will have to live with the trauma of this terrifying atrocity. Perhaps even more upsetting and saddening is the reality that this horrific event was just one of many mass shootings in recent years. Since 1966, there have been 150 mass shootings and 1077 deaths as a result. These shootings occur anywhere from schools to churches to concerts. This terrible epidemic is unique to America; nowhere else do mass shootings occur so frequently. While the issue is undoubtedly complex due to the second amendment and the strong gun rights lobby, we must at the very least make it more difficult for anyone with a demon in his head to carry out an attack like this, by following policies that public opinion supports. In order for this to occur, those who favor gun control must invest serious time and effort to lobbying and being politically active. Instead of just saying that Republicans and the NRA are heartless, supporters of gun control must make a sincere effort to reach out to congressmen and discuss these issues using evidence and facts. With enough pressure, support, and threats of not voting for them, activists can make change on this most pressing and horrific issue.

According to an npr/ipsos poll conducted after the Las Vegas Shooting in October, eight in ten Americans favor a ban on assault style weapons. Assault style weapons like the one used in Florida and Las Vegas can be bought legally with ease, and, as evidenced by these shootings, are capable of mass destruction. Why does anyone need such destructive and dangerous weapons? Every single American who is outraged over the shootings and scared for their children must either lobby, protest, or call their senator and ask them to take actions like these that so many Americans favor and that can make it more difficult for these atrocities to occur. Banning assault weapons has been effective in countries like Australia and Britain is preventing mass shootings, and even if this won't stop every shooting it will still be a significant deterrent that will reduce the likelihood or scale of these shootings. In the recent case of the Florida shooting, the perpetrator literally walked into the store and bought an AR-15 without anything stopping him. If we can't ban this weapon, we can at least make it harder to obtain and be more careful about who is getting it.

It is unfair and not productive to just say that the evil NRA controls Washington and Republicans don't care about dying kids. If anything, it is the fault of the American people who elect Congressmen that are pro-gun rights and do not call and lobby them to vote on gun legislation. Instead of demonizing Republican Congressmen who are representing their pro-gun constituents, supporters of gun control must call on the American people to support them to stop these shootings from occurring again. Just like the NRA who are simply doing their job to protect gun rights, the anti-gun lobby must work twice as hard and counter the pro-gun lobby with an effort of their own. The beauty of America is that every American can use their own constitutional rights to protest, lobby, and vote to make their voices heard. If you’re unhappy with your senator voting against gun laws, then you can call him/her up and express your concern. You can organize a mass protest. You can lobby your congressman. You can vote for a different candidate next time. By gathering mass support as some of the victims of the Florida shooting have, you can lead your own lobby and have serious conversations with congressmen about appropriate measures, be that gun laws, mental health work, or school security, to help prevent atrocities like these from occurring. Instead of getting up and saying that the NRA has blood on their hands, as some are doing now, citizens who are outraged over the current gun laws can actually use their Constitutional rights to fight for their own interests in Washington which can result in real action.

Some will argue that any effort at gun control is a waste of time and will not bring any change. They will say that it's been forever and every effort to battle the gun lobby and bring change after a shooting has been futile. After so many years of shootings nothing has come about. However, this time around things are different. The victims of the shooting are not hanging their heads low and waiting for the next shooting to happen. Instead, they are actively organizing protests and inspiring others to do the same. This time around, we are in the year of midterms, and a frustrated American people who are tired of these devastating shootings can vote out the politicians who have not done anything to prevent mass shootings from happening. The American people have the power to change this country for the better and to make it a safer place through action on gun violence, and every supporter of change must be vocal and active in the process. The NRA has been successful because of the strong and unwavering support it has as well as the pressure it places on politicians, and now, more than ever, the anti-gun lobby can do the same with the energy and investment that they can make now.

We may never be able to bring an end to mass shootings. But that doesn't mean that every American can't take action and pressure Congress to pass laws that will make it harder to get killing machines into the hands of deeply troubled people. It is the responsibility of every American to fight for a tomorrow where kids can go to school and not fear that they may not return home. It will be a long and challenging fight, but if it can prevent one less precious soul from being killed, then it will be well worth it.