By Nayzeth Lopez
Gun violence has affected the United States in unthinkable ways; the time for change is now.
The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants the right to bear arms. In spite of that, creating more laws/rules to help control who specifically can own guns will make America a safe place again. Although people may argue that an extensive process in order to bear arms isn’t necessary, it is.
Gun ownership in the United States has seemed to become part of the “American culture.” The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects this right that most Americans are able to acquire. However, the recent rise of gun violence-related crimes in the United States should make officials rethink how extensive the process should be to bear arms.
The rise of gun violence should be raising concerns in society, communities, and especially elected officials so that there can be solutions to these issues. Families shouldn’t be scared to send their children to school, a place that is meant to be “safe” to learn, a home away from home, some might even say. In the United States, there have been at least 69 school shootings so far this year as of October 28, 2024, as stated by CNN.
A very unfortunate incident that happened recently this year from a school shooting was partially due to the carelessness of rules that allowed a 14-year-old to gain access to an AR-15-style rifle that ultimately was the cause of four fatalities and left nine people injured. This was the Apalachee High School shooting in Winder, Georgia, on September 4, 2024.
The suspect, Colt Gray, was arrested and will be tried as an adult. To add on, he was previously investigated by federal and local agencies for online threats to commit a school shooting. And how did Colt Gray manage to gain access to a gun? His father, Colin Gray, gifted his son a gun as a Christmas present.
The amount of carelessness that goes into the process of being able to purchase guns should be partially responsible for the unfortunate fatalities and injuries endured that day. Even though setting more laws and or rules won’t make a difference in the past, unfortunately, it can help the future.
The process to obtain a gun legally includes determining your eligibility. If you meet the requirements, then you are on to the next step, which is a background check; then, choose the type of firearm you would like to purchase from a licensed dealer. You will then complete a form, and the licensed dealer will confirm your background check through a system that can be otherwise known as NICS. However, the rules might differ depending on the state.
Even though this might seem like a sufficient process to obtain the right to bear arms, it isn’t. If it was, there would hardly be any gun violence. The United States of America should reevaluate the rules and laws that go with the right to bear arms. I am not saying to take away the right to bear arms, but the procedure rules and or laws should be more stringent.
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