In today’s world, being a student can come with terrifying consequences. Along with the many obstacles that students face, one of the most pressing is the prevalence of gun violence in schools and communities across America.
I will never forget the feeling I felt in my stomach after watching the body cam footage from the Nashville, Tennessee shooting where 152 rounds of ammunition were used on March 27 at Covenant School in Nashville. I remember my teacher describing in great detail what we would do as a class if there was a shooter outside our door. While I, alongside many others, have become very desensitized to shootings in America, the footage forced me to really ask myself, well, what would I do in such a situation?
That was the first time I looked at where I was sitting and realized I would be one of the easiest students to shoot. That was the first time I felt genuinely scared to be at school. And I know I am not alone in that feeling.
For a long time I took comfort in knowing that Redwood is safer than a lot of other schools because it is in California – the state with the strictest gun laws in the country. However, while California does have the lowest mass shooting average (mass shooting averages are calculated as any incident in which four or more people were killed, excluding the shooter) there is still one mass shooting every eight days, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
After learning this fact, and after talking with peers, I started to become curious about the process of purchasing a gun. If there are still so many shootings, how hard can it really be to get your hands on a firearm? So, I took a trip up to Novato and paid a visit to Marin Firearms to find out.
Prior to entering the store, I did a bit of research. As a newly turned 18-year-old, I was privy to purchasing only shotguns and rifles. When I walked into the store, I asked the man at the front desk what the process for buying a gun looks like. He let me know that before he could speak with me further about purchasing a gun in-store, I must obtain my hunting license.
The course is fairly straightforward – similar to the Drivers Education course. After the online course test, it requires an in-person meeting as well. Due to time constrictions, I was not able to fully get my license in time, so I brought a fellow student and journalist Carsen Goltz with me, who already has her rifle license. However, because she is not 18 yet, we were not able to physically go through the process, however, an employee walked through the process step by step. Here is what I learned
The following images are courtesy of wikiHow.
To get the process started you must bring some proof of residency in California.
The second step is checking your eligibility by making sure you have a clean court record.
Additionally, If you are not a citizen, you must follow a much different set of procedures.
If you are not sure about your eligibility for owning a gun, you are recommended to fill out a Personal Firearms Eligibility Check form (PFEC.)
If you are eligible to own a gun, you then must complete a firearm safety course which as stated above includes both online and in-person learning.
After completing the course, you must take a written and physical test and pass.
These tests determine your knowledge of how to handle and use a firearm correctly. The owner of the store mentioned how in many other states you can walk into any store often without a Hunter's License and buy a gun on the spot.
It is after those steps that you can start to consider what gun you might like and from what store. You must always bring the physical certificate of registration to the store, as no photos are allowed.
Being under 21 also means you can only purchase a shotgun or rifle. Any sort of handgun is prohibited for those under 21 in California. The whole process of picking a rifle is very individualized to the point where your hands are measured and your height and weight are accounted for.
After proving your licensing is valid and figuring out which gun suits you (which is honestly the hardest part), you must fill out an Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) form, also known as a 4473 form.
After paying the gun and dealer fees upfront, you must wait a minimum of 10 days before picking up the firearm.
After providing proof that you have a safe way to keep the firearm whether it be a safe or alternate container, the gun becomes legally yours.
And there you have it. There is the process to buy a gun as an 18-year-old girl in California.
I'd like to take the time to note that the issue of gun violence is a complex and multifaceted problem that requires a comprehensive approach. While California’s laws are stricter than many other states, they alone will not fix the problem. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but rather a combination of strategies that can be used to address the issue. More universal background checks, promoting reasonable gun ownership rules and addressing mental health issues and the root causes of violence are just a few of the things California can do to ultimately reach the goal of creating a safer and more peaceful society for all.
Thank you for your time in reading this.
Credits:
Created with images by mrpratan - "Gun with ammunition on iron dark background." • Nomad_Soul - "Rifles on showcase in gun shop closeup, nobody" Illustration by Carsen Goltz. Photos courtesy of wikiHow. Photo courtesy of NPR.