An armed gunman took to the streets near Emory University’s campus, as well as the Center of Disease Control (CDC) headquarters. The shooter fired several rounds into the windows of the CDC’s offices, before moving to a CVS near Emory Point, on Aug. 8. Hours later after the incident, it was announced that DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose had been killed while responding to the threat.
This tragic event took place only a day after two MARTA police officers had been shot after stopping a man who was urinating in public. The officers, Rayven Thomas and Carlos Williams survived their injuries.
Workers at Grady Memorial Hospital treated 50 victims of shootings over a four-day period, starting on July 24. The issue of gun violence is one that has been far too prevalent in Atlanta and the U.S. for too long. As a nation, we need to require stricter background checks for firearm ownership, as well as stricter regulations surrounding which types of guns people can own. Automatic rifles, like the one used by the Emory shooter, cannot fall into the hands of the public.
According to Statista, there have been 155 mass shootings in the U.S. since 1982. Each year that number increases, with 2018, 2022 and 2023 all having a record high of 12 mass shootings. This is a stark contrast to the 1990s, where mass shootings were a much rarer occurrence, with typically only a couple every year. This dramatic rise in mass shootings over the previous decade is a strong representation of the fact that gun violence is a dangerous problem that is worsening as time goes on.
With the increase in gun violence, there has also been an increase in political violence. On Sept. 10, prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while hosting an event at Utah Valley University. While Kirk was viewed as a controversial figure in American politics, no person should ever experience gun violence as a result of their opinions and beliefs. This attack is a reminder of the immoralities and human rights violations caused when gun restrictions are loose, and a testimony to the fact that gun violence affects everybody, no matter the political party or background.
Another element of gun control is the high rate of suicide in the United States, and the use of guns to commit suicide. According to the Pew Research Center, 58% of all gun deaths in the U.S. are suicides, and 55% of suicides utilized a gun.
Suicides and violent attacks that are carried out with a gun provide irrefutable evidence that mental health issues are a key contributor to overall gun violence. We have to ensure that people who are mentally unstable, meaning that they are at risk to hurt themselves or others, cannot get access to a weapon.
Guns are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S. Whether its with mass shootings at churches, or with guns used in suicides, gun violence has become a significant and extreme issue in today’s society that have shaped the lives of millions. As the fear and trauma of gun violence continues to scar millions of children as they grow up, lawmakers do nothing.
In order to control the issue of gun violence, political change is vital. Instead of viewing the issue of gun violence as a political issue, politicians and lawmakers need to view the issue as a human issue. No matter the political background, guns have had detrimental effects on millions, causing trauma and pain. To resolve the issue, lawmakers must pass stricter background checks and increased funding to mental health checks, hopefully providing a remedy for this plague that has already claimed so many lives.
