By AMEARA DITSCHE
Executive Editor
Gun violence and rights are once again being thrusted to the national spotlight after killer kids dominate headlines. The Kyle Rittenhouse Trial concluded recently with a not guilty on all counts, and a 15 year old boy in Michigan committed a school shooting, murdering several of his peers. Both cases highlight the specific issue of just how accessible guns are in American society, including children.
The right to defend yourself is imperative, but there needs to be firm lines drawn so that guns as tools ensure safety, not prevent it. A fitting analogy is cars, they aren’t inherently murder weapons, but easily can become one; so in order to wield one, you need safety training a license. You need to have it inspected, there’s authorities who monitor it, and if you break these rules there are fines. Guns should be treated similarly, although fines provide an advantage to the wealthy and should be avoided in this case. Suspensions of licenses however, would work sufficiently.
Gun violence is an epidemic across the nation, spanning diverse communities. Low income inner city neighborhoods see it everyday as guns become a more commonplace solution, rather than problem. And suburban areas glorify them as testaments to freedom, leading to large scale tragic events like at Oxford High School. It used to be a matter of privilege to walk home and feel safe, to not constantly be scared of bullets, but now, no one has that. Rather than progress to eliminating gun violence, we let it spread to the nation’s elite and quiet white communities. Now that people in power are affected, more people see the problem.
By not regulating guns, we teach children that they’re something to take lightly, which is grossly untrue. Regardless of your feelings towards guns politically, you need to understand their potential for danger and maintain regard for human safety. By making guns such a political dividend, people lose sight of their literal power and focus on the symbolic one instead. Gun laws suddenly become violations and attacks on freedom, rather than safety regulations.
The first step in this issue is legislation, but an equally important one is permeating the culture of guns. There needs to be education for gun users and non-users. There should be background checks when purchasing a firearm.
One potential compromise is ammo control, laws that regulate how much ammo is purchased and used. This way hobbyists could still go to ranges and hunters can still obtain food. But those with the intention of harm are swayed, and easier to flag.
It is tragic that some people are so firm in their conspiracies they’re willing to let children die for it. As a woman I’m no stranger to feeling vulnerable wanting to defend yourself, I’m sure if someone tried to kidnap me, I’d be quite grateful if I had a gun. But, I’d also give up that right in a heartbeat if it was the only way to ensure more widespread safety.
A troubling lack of empathy is the root of many current political issues, it seems like the divide on many is whether or not you care about other people.
By regulating guns we can appeal to everyone. Those who wish to use them for non-nefarious purposes can, they just need to follow rules that ensure safety, and don’t hinder hobby related activities. But it still becomes much harder for large scale attacks to occur. As for smaller scale violence like one on one fights that sour, education is crucial. Guns need not be glorified, that’s what causes people to bring them to minor arguments.
The same question is posed each time an attack like this occurs, how many more people need to die for the rest of us to realize there is a problem? Does everyone have a number? Other nations typically pass gun legislation soon after tragedies, why is America so behind?
