America and Our Guns

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 215 mass shootings in the United States in 2021 as of May 11, 2023. This number is subject to change as mass shootings are constantly occurring. The definition of mass shooting used by the Gun Violence Archive is an incident where four or more people are shot, excluding the shooter.  https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/.

Reducing mass shootings in America is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted solution. Some potential solutions include:

  1. Universal background checks for all gun purchases, including those made online and at gun shows.
  2. Stricter regulation and enforcement of gun ownership and use, including implementing waiting periods and mandatory safety training.
  3. Investing in mental health resources and early intervention programs to help prevent individuals from turning to violence.
  4. Addressing systemic issues such as poverty, racism, and inequality that can contribute to gun violence.
  5. Encouraging responsible gun ownership through community-based education programs.
  6. Creating and implementing effective emergency response protocols for schools and public spaces to minimize casualties in the event of a shooting.
  7. Researching and understanding the root causes of gun violence in order to inform future policy decisions.

Increasing the minimum age for gun purchase could potentially reduce the number of gun-related deaths among young people, as studies have shown that individuals under the age of 21 are more likely to be involved in gun-related incidents. Additionally, raising the minimum age for gun purchase could make it more difficult for individuals who are not legally allowed to own guns to obtain them. However, opponents argue that this may infringe upon Second Amendment rights and that it may not effectively reduce gun violence.

Raising the minimum age for gun purchase would not necessarily violate the Second Amendment, as the Supreme Court has ruled that certain restrictions on gun ownership are constitutional. For example, the Court has upheld laws that prohibit felons and the mentally ill from owning guns. However, it is possible that some individuals and organizations may argue that raising the minimum age for gun purchase infringes on their Second Amendment rights. Ultimately, the interpretation of the Second Amendment is a matter of legal debate and interpretation.

Important Note:

The question of whether raising the age for gun purchases violates the Second Amendment has been the subject of legal debate. Some argue that age restrictions on gun purchases are a reasonable regulation of the right to bear arms, while others contend that such restrictions infringe on the Second Amendment.

One example of a court case related to age restrictions on gun purchases is the case of NRA v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and U.S. Department of Justice. In this case, the National Rifle Association challenged the constitutionality of a federal law that prohibited licensed firearm dealers from selling handguns to persons under 21 years of age. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the law, ruling that it did not violate the Second Amendment.

However, it is important to note that this is just one court case, and the interpretation of the Second Amendment is a complex and ongoing legal debate.

Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca5/12-50002/12-50002-2013-10-25.html

There is no clear evidence that more guns make a country safer. In fact, studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between gun ownership and gun-related deaths. Countries with higher rates of gun ownership tend to have higher rates of gun-related deaths, including homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings. Additionally, countries with stricter gun control laws tend to have lower rates of gun-related deaths. While the issue of gun violence is complex and multifaceted, simply increasing the number of guns in circulation is unlikely to solve the problem and may even exacerbate it.

Here are a few references related to the idea that more guns will make us a safer country:

  • Kalesan, B., Mobily, M. E., Keiser, O., Fagan, J. A., & Galea, S. (2016). Firearm legislation and firearm mortality in the USA: a cross-sectional, state-level study. The Lancet, 387(10030), 1847-1855. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01026-0
  • Hemenway, D., & Miller, M. (2013). Public health approach to the prevention of gun violence. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(21), 2033-2035. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1303561
  • Webster, D. W., Vernick, J. S., & Zeoli, A. M. (2014). Association between youth-focused firearm laws and youth suicides. JAMA, 312(7), 719-720. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.9003
  • Siegel, M., & Rothman, E. F. (2016). Firearm ownership and suicide rates among US men and women, 1981–2013. American Journal of Public Health, 106(10), 1826-1832. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303348

These articles provide evidence that stricter gun laws and reduced access to firearms are associated with lower rates of gun violence and suicide. It is important to note that this is a complex issue with many contributing factors, and no single solution will completely eliminate gun violence.

I was raised with a dad and brother who hunted.  Guns were a part of our upbringing.  We knew the rules with them.  But when my dad suffered severe depression while I was in my teens – we got rid of the guns.  Common sense seems to be missing in many of our American households now.

So instituting common sense gun reform laws, as other countries have done very successfully, is the only solution.  The data is clear.  Check the sources yourself. A feeling is not the same as an educated opinion.  

Dr. Nancy Sutton Pierce, Author & Human Rights Advocate

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