by Kevin Huang On February 14, 2018, citizens across the United States were horrified and devastated by the news of a shooting that happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. This incident tallied up a death toll of 17 people, and 20 school shootings have occurred since the start of 2018. This number amounts to an average of one school shooting per week as of the date of this article. These statistics alone should strike fear into the hearts of people everywhere but it’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the horror of gun violence. So far in 2018, the number of incidents in the United States involving firearms is 18,576, according to the Gun Violence Archive. While not all of these incidents resulted in injuries and deaths, it still gives us a glimpse at the prevalence of gun violence in the United States. With this ongoing problem, one has to wonder about the cause of it all. There have been many debates over why this is happening, giving various reasons ranging from bullying to outdated gun control laws, but one common variable is present in most of them: that the guns involved were misused. Whether they were misused by one who has been bullied or mentally unstable, or misused in a crime or a fight, these guns strayed far from their intended purpose, which was for saving lives rather than ending them. So why not remove guns from the equation?
Why Are Guns So Common? There are many countries in the world that allow gun ownership, with certain restrictions, but why is gun violence a more severe problem in the United States than elsewhere? For one thing, the United States is one of three countries that have the constitutional right to own a firearm, and it is currently the only country with a right to keep firearms with no constitutional restrictions. The problem itself lies in the Constitution of the United States. The second amendment states that it is “the right of the people to keep and bear arms.” This amendment was originally written to let people protect themselves, but so many problems have occurred as a result. Gun control laws are outdated and cannot stop the current problems. In a country where you have to be 21 to drink alcohol, you are able to buy a gun at the early age of 18. These firearms have somehow wormed their way into people’s lives and many believe they are here to stay. As of today, the United States stands at the top for the number of civilian-owned guns per capita: for every 100 residents there are currently 101 guns. The second highest is Serbia, currently at 58.21. Guns are so common in the United States that it would be amazing if no problems arose. Guns Kill People There’s a popular saying in the US that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” This statement suggests that gun violence is not caused by guns themselves but rather by the people who use them. It has been used to shut down arguments regarding the removal of guns, and some people who are for gun ownership have stated that criminals will just find other means of causing devastation. A man who shot down people in a school can very well pick up a knife and harm others with it instead. But would the devastation be on the same level? Will a madmen with a knife deal the same amount of damage as one with a gun? Giving these people tools that can cause such problems is something that should be considered more intensively. While it is true that the one in control of the tool holds a great responsibility to use it safely, the tool itself should never have been so dangerous in the first place. An analogy can be made to a kid hitting another kid with a stick. Do you take away the stick or take away the kid? Guns are the reason why so many people are dying and it will continue to be that way as long as guns are present. People kill people but guns help them kill a lot of people. Guns in Other Countries The United States is one of the most developed countries in the world, ranking in the top 10 along with others such as Denmark and Germany. But how does the United States compare to these countries where guns are not in such abundance? Denmark is currently ranked 12th for the amount of gun crimes while the United States sits at number one. The laws and regulations in Denmark are much more strict and the result is that fewer people are in possession of guns. This is reflected by statistics: Denmark has less than 2 deaths per 100,000 citizens while the United States hovers above 10. Another comparison will bring this close to my own home, Taiwan. Taiwanese gun laws require a series of background checks along with training before one can own a gun. This along with the fact that people in Taiwan do not seek to own guns has reduced gun ownership to a minimum. Taiwan is ranked 102nd in terms of gun-related violence. There is definitely a relation between the number of guns owned and the amount of gun violence, but something so simple seems to elude many people. In countries where owning a gun requires many different checks and training, there is also a decrease in gun violence and gun ownership. In the United States, where owning a gun is as easy as going to the store and buying one, ease of access to guns is only paving a way for chaos. Decreasing the amount of guns in circulation or even removing them has statistically proven to be effective in other countries, something the United States should consider. What Does the Future Hold? Gun problems will remain a problem for as long as the laws remain unchanged. Whether it’s to change the gun control laws or to impose one that removes guns completely, it is apparent that something has to be done. It’s time for a change. I believe that gun ownership as well as gun control have become the most pressing issues in the United States. In a nation where violence has become so common, there has to be ways where we can achieve a safer environment for generations to come. Firearms are tools to be used very carefully and only by a limited group of individuals who have gone through the necessary tests and regulations. Guns should not be something that people can get their hands on easily. Otherwise, gun crimes will not stop. The future of the United States is quite grim in terms of gun crimes and we have to look at the root of the trouble: the fact that so many Americans own guns. a
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May 2024
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