Regulating Weapons

We are long past due on an actual discussion on gun control. In what seems like a now all-too-common scenario, our nation was rocked by another mass shooting. On February 14, 2018, a 19-year-old former student walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, armed with an AR-15, and killed seventeen people and hospitalized fourteen others. This marks one of the deadliest school shootings to date. And yet nothing seems to be done about it. Instead, the conversation is steered away from gun control in an attempt to distract the public from forcing Congress to act. These distractions are created by the leadership of the NRA and the weapon manufacturers that fund them. Politicians then deny the will of the people because of contributions made by the same people owned by the weapon manufacturers. It is a cycle that must be broken for the sake of our children and our future as a nation.

Every time there is a mass shooting, three things happen. First, politicians and pundits offer “thoughts and prayers.” Next, pundits push back against any conversation about gun control in a disingenuous effort from “politicizing” the issue. This diversion is meant to stifle discussion until the public stops caring. If that doesn’t work, the third step is directing the conversation away from gun control itself and blame anything else. Mental health has become the new culprit. President Donald Trump and the Republicans have been quick to blame mental illness in the wake of these shootings. Even if that were true, Trump and Republican lawmakers don’t seem to be addressing the issue seriously. In fact, one of the first executive orders signed by Trump made it easier for those with mental illness to purchase firearms. To make matters worse, all government funding to study, treat, and prevent mental illness have been slashed almost in half. If mental illness was truly the culprit for these killings, who won’t lawmakers properly fund the programs designed to fight that very problem. The unfortunate truth is, they don’t care. Clearly, we need more than just “thoughts and prayers”.

There is no one solution to this problem. But that doesn’t mean we should do anything about it. Most measures being put forth are reasonable and honestly, common sense. Universal background checks on a federal level for all firearm purchases is something we all can agree on. If you want a weapon, you must pass a background check (one that includes mental health history). Violent offenders should not be allowed to possess weapons. A recent Quinnipiac Poll puts public support of the measure at 97 percent, yet Congress does nothing. Banning the sale of bump stocks is another popular position among American citizens. After witnessing the carnage it brought in Vegas, it is clear it must be addressed.

But if these positions are so popular, why is nothing being done about it? Because the politicians with the ability to do something, have been bought off by weapon manufacturers and the NRA (specifically the leadership). The NRA organization itself is not the enemy. It was founded to increase training, safety, and public knowledge of rifles, yet it has since been hijacked by the people who make weapons in an effort to make more money. In fact, if you poll NRA members, a majority of them agree with universal background checks, limiting high capacity magazines, and the ban on bump stocks. However, the leadership of the NRA uses lobbyists in Washington to oppose any and all regulations on weapons. They have a vested interest in opposing these regulations because doing so would affect the bottom line of weapon manufacturers. Mass shootings have been good business for them. After each shooting, weapon sales increase because of public panic. Unfortunately, they have a motive to keep the cycle of violence turning, paid for by the blood of American citizens and children.

So let’s have this discussion. Be honest and frank. We aren’t talking about banning weapons or taking them away from law-abiding citizens. We are talking about making weapons harder to get with common sense regulations. Because regardless of where you stand on gun control, everyone is for it. It just depends where you draw the line. To say you are against all gun control means civilians should have access to drones, nukes, and tanks.

Untrained civilians should not have access to military-grade weaponry. Don’t buy into the misinformation coming from either side and we can have a real debate. We can pressure our representatives into action to push for legislation and policies that protect American lives because I’m tired of seeing bloodshed in our schools. I’m tired of living in fear for my children. The price of guns is not worth the blood of children. Time to wake up and act.