Day after day, as children walk into schools in America, we continue to be sitting ducks. Mass shootings, especially school shootings, are taking place at an extremely alarming frequency. Almost every day there is a new shooting reported in the news. Action desperately needs to be taken to protect the people of our country.
Since the Columbine High School massacre of 1999, which killed 13 innocent people and wounded more than 20 others, 338,000 more students have experienced gun violence in their schools. That’s 338,000 children who have heard the words “never again”. Those 338,000 students have been told they are in people’s “thoughts and prayers”, but here’s the fact of the matter: your thoughts and prayers don’t mean anything when innocent lives are being taken because people want to own military-grade weapons.
Obtaining a firearm in this country is far too easy. While you have to pass a background check to purchase one in-store, there are a multitude of other ways to acquire these deadly weapons. Despite these background checks, the current existing loopholes continue to result in the wrong people getting their hands on firearms. People often get guns from their families or friends, or they attend a gun show, where a background check is not required.
Too often, there are missed warning signs from shooters that are only brought up after tragedy strikes. In recent events, a 14-year-old was given a gun by his father. By doing this, he knowingly ignored the fact that his son was on an FBI watchlist for previous school shooting threats. Had his father taken his son’s past into consideration, 4 innocent lives would not have been taken at Apalachee High School.
There will always be the argument that creating stricter gun laws is an infringement on the Second Amendment. Although the Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms, it does not specify that this cannot be done without restrictions. Stricter gun laws are not about getting rid of the right to bear arms, they’re about ensuring public safety remains a priority.
The plea for stricter gun laws is not a way for the radical left to change the constitution. This is a rational response to the leading cause of death in children and teens in America. Our government’s current gun regulation system is failing children daily. The children of America are tired of empty promises. It’s time for the lawmakers of this country to step up and implement effective measures to save our lives. We deserve to feel safe in playgrounds, classrooms, and libraries.
