On a stage in Utah, a man bled out while answering a question about gun violence. Hours later, three school children were shot in Colorado. Sadly, this numbing feeling has taken America by storm; gun violence is the noxious reality we face daily. Our country bears witness to gun violence, and no lives are spared in the crosshairs of this distinctly American madness. Is this the cost of freedom? We hope not.
We raise our editorial voice to call upon our fellow Americans: Take a stand against political inaction and fight in support of gun regulation to protect the people of this nation.
We know that gun violence is a constant threat to the American public, from school-aged children to adults living out their day-to-day lives. It is a fear that we know all too well. We must take action to protect each other from the scourge of gun violence. Too many lives have been lost, and many more lives will be at risk if the country does not take the necessary steps towards stricter regulations on firearms now.
Understandably, people want to own guns, especially in a scary world like this, Americans naturally want anything that will keep them and their family safe. With the previous lack of gun regulation, there is a high volume of gun holders in the state, and it can be hard to believe that the state can fully regulate it enough to keep others safe. Even if we are able to put regulations in place, how will we go about making sure previous owners follow the same laws? It can feel vulnerable to not be able to protect yourself, but it can also make others feel safer.
This disturbing fact has been continuously true since 2022. The majority of gun-related deaths are suicides. We need to pass laws and regulations that prevent people struggling with mental health issues from having easy access to firearms.
At only 18 years old, in Texas, it’s possible to legally purchase an assault rifle. But why should an average citizen have access to a gun manufactured for war? What legitimate use could a citizen not actively fighting a war make of a weapon like this for? The Second Amendment was created during revolutionary times, when people actually had a real cause to fight. It was to ensure no single, tyrannical power could completely take over the country, the way the colonists experienced with the British.
We need to call on our politicians, both local and national, to pass laws that regulate people’s access to firearms.
In conclusion, we need a major firearm reform in this country, given the numbers and the violence that is constantly happening to innocent children and people in general. We as a country need to push forward towards more regulation on firearms because these deaths are preventable and completely unnecessary. This is not a matter of “right to bear arms,” this is a matter of protecting our innocent children and people who are lost to gun violence every single day in this country. People should not have to fear for their lives when attending a school in America; this is why we want reform, to protect those who can’t protect themselves.
