In order to effectively secure the Blessings of Liberty for the citizens of the United States and their posterity, laws regarding the acquisition of guns must be fortified. Even though arguments have been made stating that such policies infringe on the long-established Second Amendment, healthcare concerns cannot be properly addressed without recognizing the detriments of rising gun violence, as well as the lax regulations that act as enablers for this catastrophic issue.
When opinions are removed from the discussion, the statistics clearly outline the steep increase in mass shootings and resulting deaths currently plaguing the nation. An examination of the most recent data available by the CDC shows that 2021 marked the death of 48,830 citizens in the United States from gun-related injuries, reflecting a 23% increase since 2019. In a well-developed and expansive nation, such numbers represent the deep-rooted flaws in the priorities of those that allow thousands of innocent lives to be put at risk and lost. A nation that hides under the ratification of an amendment from 1791, is one that needs to open its eyes and see its people are dying.
With the destructive hand of gun violence, no one is exempt, as is disturbingly demonstrated in the increase of children and teens feeling the palpable fear and destruction of such demolition. This stark rise in fatalities is seen through the 50% increase in the death of this age group, spanning over a mere two years, from 2019 to 2021. The fact remains that every day, 23 children and teens (1-17) are shot in the United States. It appears as though schools experience such a colossal amount of gun violence that it has been desensitized in the media; a disconcerting reality that makes the essential protection of the nation’s youth an even more pressing concern. The upcoming generations are the future of the United State’s prosperity, but waiting to enact change until they do it themselves is ensuring their lives are damaged before they even enter adulthood.
Yet another systematic concern behind the obtaining of such lethal weapons is the lack of governance. Nowadays, gaining access to guns under the facade of protection is uncomfortably common. Statistics show that over 40% of all homes in the United States own at least one gun, with the potential for these deadly firearms to be left unmonitored and easily accessible to unknowing children and adults without the proper judgment and skillset to operate them. This poses substantial concerns as these easily-operational handguns are the most common weapon type seen in mass shootings in the United States. However, the problem at the forefront of the minds of advocates for improved regulations is that almost anyone can buy one without any issues. Essentially, one of the most predominant (and only) qualifications an individual needs to purchase a gun is to be of age; an 18 year old, potentially still in high school, can legally obtain a weapon with immense potential for disaster. While there are some background checks implemented to help alleviate this, the incomplete reality partnered with the potential to bypass restrictions, creates the spike in mass shootings so recognizable today. These loopholes enable the potential for past criminals, individuals with mental health conditions, and even children who cannot fathom the consequences, to not only obtain a gun but use it at the expense of innocent lives.
Now the reason for the substantial delay in the alteration of policies is people feel as though regulation means removal; they argue that gun control goes against the right that United States citizens have to bear arms for protection. However, in doing so, they are unfairly misinterpreting this debate, ignoring the undoubtable fact that those same citizens are dying. Regulation means restriction, ensuring the affluence and well-being of a nation looked upon by others for inspiration. Gun control means enacting stricter background checks, a ban on assault weapons for the ordinary household, and databases on gun owners to hold them accountable. It means evolving to meet changing times by recognizing that the nation has a tremendous issue; an issue that inflicts on the rights of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
