OPINION
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By Madeleine Watkins
Students rally in DC on March 24. Photo credit: Catherine Gao.
In the aftermath of the 44th mass shooting of 2018, the debate over gun control has taken center stage on the political, social, and legal platforms of America. In some of the most politically charged times in recent history, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School shooting has incited debates, dialogue, and movements that highlight an already strongly divided nation. From the tragedy have emerged many active young students, including MSD survivors and students Emma Gonzales, Cameron Kasky, and Jaclyn Corin; all of whom have brought the debate over firearms to the national stage. They have demanded change from their lawmakers in Florida, organized the March for Our Lives campaign and nationwide marches, staged a national student walkout, prompting walkouts all around the nation (including one held at Collegiate) founded the Never Again MSD Movement, and written compelling accounts of their experience with the tragedy, all to encourage politicians to enforce stricter gun control in America.
According to statistics from the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, over 175,703 Americans were killed with firearms between 2012-2016. These numbers include suicides, homicides, accidents, and “unknown intentions.” American statistics of firearm deaths are staggering compared to worldwide figures of gun violence. (See infographic below). Countries such as Canada, Britain, and Australia all have legislation that followed in the wake of their own shooting tragedies, such as those experienced in America at Stoneman Douglas High School, Sandy Hook Elementary, Pulse Nightclub, and other locations all across the country. While poets, politicians, and those deep in sorrow have been alacritous to step forward with their words and with their prayers, the weight of the pen they bore was not nearly so heavy as the one that is burdened with the grief of a nation. Andrea Gibson’s poem “Pulse,” Barack Obama’s Prayer Vigil, and not even the anguish of pleading parents has been enough to compel legislation through Congress.
Twelve days after Australia’s Port Arthur Massacre in 1996, the country passed sweeping gun reform, under the leadership of conservative Prime Minister John Howard, which included a mass firearm buyback, stricter registration laws, and required a better reason for owning a gun than “self-defense.” Until this week, Australia had not had a mass shooting since then.
Canada, rather than focusing on specific makes and models of guns to be regulated, spends most of their power on the consumer regulations of gun ownership. Canadian citizens must undergo rigorous training and background checks to be given permission to purchase a firearm, and then the firearms can only be used for sport, to shoot at paper targets, or for hunting. In the past 53 years, Canada has lost 73 people to mass shootings.
Following an elementary school shooting Dunblane, Scotland in 1996, the UK passed a ban on private handgun ownership; this ban was in addition to the Firearms Amendment Act of 1988, which was passed in the aftermath of the Hungerford tragedy in 1987.
Other nations have acted to protect lives and more closely regulate firearms in order to prevent senseless deaths. In addition to those lives lost to bullets, there have been countless mothers, siblings, friends, communities, and citizens permanently affected by gun violence. It is not the duty of students to worry about the protocol surrounding a “Code Blue.” Parents should not fear for their child’s life while at school or while at a movie theater. It is not the responsibility of American citizens to protect themselves against the merciless race of a bullet.
Regulation of firearms, mirroring that of Australia, the United Kingdom, or Canada, could save the lives of American citizens. Should policy makers come together and place the lives of American citizens above partisan disagreement, we, as a country, as Americans, might be able to spare some future grief, to preserve a little more innocence, to protect those we love a little more absolutely.
To incite the necessary dialogue that equates positive change, the tragedy of the defining events of American gun culture must be faced fully, without partisan clash or agenda, in order for productive and comprehensive legislation to be passed. Many of the proposals for change, rather than defying or negating the Second Amendment of the Constitution, would rather strengthen the ability of the state to regulate and control the conduct of arms. MSD students have drafted a manifesto of changes to current American gun law. Among their demands are calls to ban automatic weapons and accessories that allow high round fire, closer communication between mental health care professionals and law enforcement, and the closure of existing loopholes in the gun purchasing process. For the safety of all those living in danger of firearm violence, regulating legislation is necessary to save our lives.
Featured image courtesy of Never Again.
Read more of The Match’s coverage of the gun control debate in America:
Meade Spotts’ opinion piece from the perspective of a responsible gun owner.
2 thoughts on “Gun Control in America”