Every day 321 people are shot in the United States. Gun violence is a huge issue. School shootings, mass shootings, and other gun violence incidents are extremely common. This violence has a huge impact on communities, especially those of minorities. Other countries of a similar economic level have drastically lower shooting amounts than the US. This is why we need to encourage dramatic gun reforms including licenses, background checks, and other restrictions. If we don’t fix gun violence now, you or your loved ones could be the next victims. 

A mass shooting is defined as any incident in which 4 or more people are shot and killed, excluding the shooter. Across the United States mass shootings have occurred many times, especially over the past few decades. According to Everytown Research and Policy, an average of 20 mass shootings happen every year in the United States. More and more people are murdered every year, and more and more communities are devastated by their losses. 

We don’t want to be the next family destroyed by gun violence. 

 One of the most recent mass shootings to wreak havoc in our country occured in Uvalde, Texas. According to the New York Times, at least 21 people were murdered in the school shooting. 19 children and two adults were killed by the 18 year old shooter. This most recent shooting is only one example of mass shootings and gun violence wrecking our country. 

We shouldn’t have to worry for our children’s safety when they go to school. Children go to school to learn, not die. 

Sandy Hook Promise states that every day about 12 people die from gun violence, and another 32 people are shot and injured. These staggering numbers illustrate the severity of gun violence in America. 

A common mindset seen in America is that “the children are our future, so we should protect them.” Despite being a fraction of the population, children and teenagers are unproportionally affected by gun violence. Everytown Research and Policy says that 1 in 4 mass shooting victims are children and teens. The youngest generation is unable to grow and develop properly with the looming threat of death or injury from gun violence. Gun violence is such a pressing issue that guns are the leading cause of death among American children.

 Your children could be the next victims in a growing number of children’s lives cut short. 

Gun violence unproportionately affects certain groups. People that are part of a minority group, or a group that is commonly discriminated against, are most targeted during mass shootings. Women and girls are much more likely to suffer from being the victims of gun violence than males. Sandy Hook Promises says that 90% of teens killed in dating violence were girls. Gender is one of the many factors that can increase someone’s chance of being a victim. LGBTQ+ members are one of the most often persecuted groups. According to the New York Times, “about 1 out of 5 gay and lesbian youth have been threatened or injured with a weapon on school property.” By fitting into an at risk category, you or a love one could be the next ones  targeted.

Another highly impacted group is people of color, Black youth are four times more likely to be killed with guns than their white peers. Low socio-economic levels and under-resourced neighborhoods are also heavily impacted. Sandy Hook Promise said that children living in poverty are far more likely to die from gun violence than children who are of a higher economic level. Shocking statistics like these show how gun violence unproportionally damages different communities. This damage creates lasting impacts on the well-being of different communities. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are all wrecked by the horrors of gun violence. 

In order to prevent the horrors of gun violence, we need to prevent guns from getting into the hands of shooters. Gun restrictions, background checks, and licenses are all measures that should be put in place to protect our country.

 Gun restrictions are a common law in most countries, it is notably absent in the United States. This lack of restrictions is what causes the large amounts of gun violence and mass shootings. According to Everytown Research and Policy, “These trends include that mass shootings are often: perpetrated by someone who was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm; perpetrated by someone who displayed prior warning signs; intermingled with acts of domestic violence; and far deadlier when they involve assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.”

 Banning most guns or requiring licenses is a proven method to lowering gun violence. Automatic, semi-automatic, and high-capacity magazine guns should be completely banned from civilians because they are extremely dangerous and deadly. All handguns should be only allowed with a license, background check, and proper storage. These restrictions can help ensure guns stay out of the hands of those not fit to use them. 

Licenses and permits should involve an extensive background check to check for past violence, abuse, or other possible warning signs. Possible gun owners should then have to prove they are mentally stable enough for a firearm, and provide their intent for purchasing a gun. After being proved capable of owning a gun, they should need a home inspection to prove they are safely storing the firearm. It should be stored in a gun safe and out of the reach of children.  If we put these restrictions into place, our families, friends, and our loved ones will be much safer.

The United States has much higher levels of gun violence than most other countries. Since 1970, the US has had 2,032 school shootings. Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December of 2012, there have been 948 school shootings in the US alone, according to the Sandy Hook Promise. Since 2009, Mexico has had 8 school shootings, South Africa at 6, India at 5, Pakistan and Nigeria at 4, France, Canada, and Brazil at 2. All of these countries have had far fewer school shootings than the US, this is because there are far more guns in America than in most other countries. 

According to BBC, for every 100 residents in America, there are 120.5 guns. In Yemen, for every 100 residents there are 52.8 guns. In Serbia and Montenegro, there are 39.1 guns per 100 people. In Uruguay and Canada, there are 34.7 guns per 100 people. Other countries have shown how to reduce gun violence, and America should follow their lead, so our citizens are safer. 

There have been many shootings that have happened in the US that have been started by people who are very young. USA gun control laws state that if someone is 18 years or older they can buy shotguns, rifles, and AR-15’s. 21 year olds and older can buy all other types of guns. Your children’s classmates could be the next school shooter, because they can access firearms at such a young age. 

Due to the amount of school shootings carried out by people who are very young, US citizens are protesting for new gun laws that raise the legal purchasing age for guns, mandatory licenses, and other restrictions to protect our country. You can join the fight to protect our country by advocating for gun control laws. Students and adults across the US are protesting for better control on guns, all you have to do is join in. Organizations such as Everytown Research and Policy, and the New Town Action Alliance are nonprofit organizations interested in creating a better and safer environment with more gun control. Another way you can help the fight against gun violence is by educating people on gun violence and how it affects others. If people know how dangerous guns are to their community, they may think twice about purchasing a gun. 

Over the past few years we have seen how school shootings can take a toll on families and communities everywhere, whether the shooting directly affected you or not. We must take action and protect the ones we care about in order to prevent devastating shootings. After all, it could be us next.