Senior Tommy Rossley holds up a sign in favor of protecting gun rights. The second amendment is something Rossley values and believes should be protected. "I love to hunt and believe that our right to bear arms should be protected," he said. Photo by Matteo Winandy
By Libby Howell
Screams.
Injuries.
Death.
And it’s only Friday.
This is the reality of Richneck Elementary School when a 6 year old gunman came in and shot his teacher. Because of this and recent shootings, it has reignited the debate over gun control regulations.
According to the Texas Gov., the laws regarding carrying a firearm in Texas state that you have to be 21 and have no prior felonies or recent demeanors. It also states that you do not have to have a license to carry a handgun.
The question of gun control has become a controversy in this nation. Although little has been done by the federal government to remedy the issue on either side of the political aisle. Some like firearms instructor and retired police officer Chris Hansen feel political polarization is causing the government to be unable to create an effective solution.
“What the government needs to do is stop playing the political game, which is easier said than done, and truth be told, have responsible gun control,” Hansen said.
The media plays a pivotal role in how gun violence is portrayed and perceived by the American people. The coverage between left winged media and right winged media both highlight different causes and solutions for gun violence. A large argument between sides is how to portray individual shootings when mass shootings are also happening.
“It is hard to make one shooting that killed two people stand out among hundreds of shootings that happen everyday,” gun control activist Lindsay Bird says.
But anti gun control activist Ella Madden thinks that the media needs to highlight individual shootings just as much as they do mass shootings.
“They only talk about mass shootings rather than the daily gun violence that you see happening in our cities which is just as bad,” Madden said.
There are many reasons why the solution is complicated to find. Both sides of the party want to protect their beliefs which eventually causes them to intensify their argument. However, there are different aspects that have to fit into the equation including mental illnesses, lack of parenting and constitutional rights.
“The gun control laws right now are inadequate and don’t do a good job of detailing who can carry a gun, where they can carry it, and what guns they can carry,” Lindsay Bird said.
The inadequacy of our solutions is causing a specific minority to suffer through this political gridlock in Bird’s mind the most. The kids. The kids who suffer through mass school shootings and lockdown drills every other week. The kids with incompetent parents and a history of mental illness that has been ignored for years.
“Teens shouldn’t have to be afraid to go to school and they shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not they are going to make it through the day,” Bird said.
For example, one of the most infamous school shootings in history, Columbine High School. Two 17 year old boys came into the school and shot 15 students and teachers dead. These boys obviously suffered with mental health issues, but what is concerning to most is that their parents were completely oblivious.
"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun"
“Those two young men’s parents had no idea, they were completely clueless that their children were subset, and that they were completely binary in their thinking,” Hansen said.
Another example of how lack of parenting plays a role in gun violence is the 6 year old who shot his first grade teacher. Not only was he exposed to firearms at such a young age, but they were so accessible to the point where he could take it to school and shoot his teacher.
“I will say that the parents of this child, the people who are supposed to make sure that he could not access a gun, much less take it to school, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Hansen said.
Though guns are dangerous and ultimately have the ability to take someone's life, they also have the ability to save lives and protect people.
“The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun,” Hansen stated.
Although, no matter how much gun control we have, it is inevitable that bad guys will get their hands on a gun as well. Hansen says, from experience, that if we arm more good people, the crime rate could significantly go down.
“I changed my opinion after seeing hundreds, if not more, good people murdered or raped or robbed, that could have potentially protected themselves if they had a firearm,” Hansen said.
In order to arm more good people effectively, there needs to be laws put in place to maintain and control responsible gun ownership.
“We need some more psychological checks and a lot more training and a waiting period to get powerful weapons like the ones used in mass shootings,” Madden said.
There are also other resources that law enforcement and the government can implement in order to promote rational gun use, starting with clinics and seminars that can educate the public on the importance of how to safely use a firearm.
“I think larger police departments that have the resources should put on clinics, seminars and classes on gun safety as well as helping citizens prepare themselves,” Hansen said. “It is a responsibility and you need training and practice,”.
Overall, the issue of gun control and violence remains a highly debated topic in this generation. While half of the world wants complete gun control, the other half wants to fight for their constitutional rights and freedom.
“I think republicans are so worried about their liberty rather than protecting the people who are actually victims of gun violence,” Bird said.
The reality is that there is no simple solution to this complex and controversial problem, but we can reduce gun violence by implementing stricter gun control laws and arming more mentally adequate people.
“Every human being that can meet requirements should be able to and should highly consider carrying a weapon because when you carry a gun, you choose your destiny,” Hansen said. “When you don’t carry a gun, you allow someone else to choose your destiny and I will always choose my destiny.”