The United States has an average of 32,000 firearm-related deaths per year, marking a rate of around 11 deaths per 100,000 people. There have been over 41,000 incidents of gun violence in the United States during 2015 alone, resulting in the deaths of thousands of citizens and children.
It is infeasible to look at those statistics without registering the fact that gun violence is a monumental issue in our country. As the year goes by, it seems as though the story of a new mass shooting is broken every week. On Oct. 9 , not one, but two school shootings occurred throughout the course of a single day at Texas Southern University and Northern Arizona University, leaving a total of three students dead and seven others hospitalized. Authorities claimed that both situations began as altercations but later turned violent when weapons were drawn.
Just a matter of weeks prior, a different, significant mass shooting took place on Oct. 1 in Roseburg, Oregon at Umpqua Community College. Ten people lost their lives, and seven were wounded. In contrast to the Oct. 9 incidents, the gunman, Chris Harper Mercer, was intent on his plan to kill members of the college, as it was reported that he even questioned victims of their religious devotions before robbing them of their lives.
While it’s certain that these incidents are devastating beyond belief, it is not enough to simply sit back and mourn the loss of the victims without taking action. Something needs to be done to prevent situations such as the ones mentioned from repeatedly occurring, and that “something” is gun control. Implementing background checks on potential gun buyers would ensure that only qualified and mentally capable individuals are able to get their hands on these deadly weapons. In addition, abolishing the multitude of ways for buyers to illegally purchase guns through the black market would significantly reduce the amount of circulating weapons in this country. Moreover, by repealing the federal laws that prohibit gun dealers from being held responsible for criminally selling guns to unlicensed buyers, not only will gun control be taken more seriously as a whole, but the thousands of families that have suffered over the loss of their children and relatives will have better peace of mind.
Statistically, gun control has proven beneficial for countries all around the world. Japan, famed for their strict policies and rigorous licensing procedures for guns, only saw an astounding six deaths related to gun violence in 2014. Six! In comparison, the U.S. in 2013 was struck with a death toll of 33,636 civilians, all of which were related to firearm use. Gun control is a no-brainer when comparing numbers like these. If the U.S. is concerned with protecting the lives and well-being of its citizens, stricter gun control should be implemented without a second thought.
With that being said, it seems as though government officials are finally starting to recognize the pressing issue of gun violence.
“Our thoughts and prayers are not enough.” said President Obama said in a speech on Oct. 1 regarding the Umpqua College shooting. “It does not capture the heartache and grief and anger that we should feel, and it does nothing to prevent this carnage from being inflicted someplace else in America next week or a couple months from now.”
In the meantime, all that we can do is await a much-needed vote from Congress, and pray for the families of victims already lost. People should be able to go to movie theatres and receive their educations without having to worry about their lives being put in jeopardy by someone with a weapon. Gun control is a necessity, and the lives of our country’s citizens will continue to be threatened if preventative action is not taken soon.
