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“Gun (noun)- a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are propelled by explosive force, typically making a characteristic loud, sharp noise.”
According to Oxford Languages, a gun is an explosive-powered weapon that should be handled with caution. Nowhere in this definition does it imply that a child ought to be familiar with the sound of one.
Yet, gun violence in schools has always been an issue in America. In recent years, the number of shootings in middle, primary, and high schools in the United States has risen significantly.
In fact, 12 children are killed in the United States every day as a result of gun violence. If that isn't enough to worry you, consider this: gun violence is the biggest cause of mortality among teenagers and young people in America.
So, why is it that in a country as wealthy and evolved as ours, more children die from gun violence than from illness? Well, because our judicial system allows it to occur. And, while many argue that the right to bear guns is an unalienable right guaranteed by our constitution, many forget that the constitution was drafted at a period when the average American lived to the age of 30 and solved their problems at daybreak in a firefight.
According to current federal law, a person is only forbidden from possessing firearms if they fit into one of numerous categories of prohibited individuals. A person who exhibits warning indications of suicidal ideation or violent behaviour but is not forbidden by federal law may nevertheless legally purchase and own firearms.
Extreme Risk regulations aim to close this gap by preserving public safety and helping those in crisis to get the help they require. For instance, prior to the 2018 school massacre in Parkland, Florida, the mass shooter had clearly exhibited threatening behavior on multiple occasions.
Following the tragedy, lawmakers throughout the country have worked to bridge the gap within their states. But despite the overwhelming evidence that gun violence is a substantial threat to our children's safety, much more work remains to be done to protect them.
Lawmakers need to prioritize the approval of extensive gun control measures, such as universal background checks and the statewide implementation of Extreme Risk legislation.
The fight for gun violence and safety has been effective in some places, such as the North Carolina Department of Public Safety's (NC DPS) NC SAFE campaign. According to the organization, “NC S.A.F.E. (Secure All Firearms Effectively) is North Carolina’s statewide initiative designed to raise awareness of the importance of safe firearm storage. Established in 2023, the initiative provides resources and best practices for firearm storage and safety.”
Initiates like this enable state governments and politicians to advocate for a cause that will save the lives of not only children, but also any citizen who owns a firearm by teaching them to safely use their weapons or to help someone they love in order to prevent a tragedy.
And while they’re not aimed or intended for law regulations or change, they remain effective and are a step into the future.
If other states, and the federal government, supported gun-safety initiatives such as the one above, we could ensure that no more innocent lives are threatened by guns.
Schools and parents must all fight for improved mental health services and early intervention programmes to identify and assist those who are at risk of perpetrating violence.
As a nation, we have to work together to demand stronger precautions and guarantee that our children may attend school without fear of harm caused by guns. It is not just an issue of public safety, but also a moral obligation, to protect our childrens’ lives.
An end to gun violence means an end to our constant worry that our children, siblings, and peers will hear the sound of a firearm as they enter their school campus.
Sources
“Donate to Help Protect Children from Gun Violence.” Takeaction.sandyhookpromise.org, takeaction.sandyhookpromise.org/a/texasresponse?source=-br&ms=a_google_d2dtexasresponse2022_p-br&amtOpts=26. Accessed 13 June 2024.
“Extreme Risk Law.” Everytown Research & Policy, everytownresearch.org/rankings/law/extreme-risk-law/#:~:text=Extreme%20Risk%20laws%20allow%20for.
“NC S.A.F.E.” NC S.A.F.E., www.ncsafe.org/?gad_source=1. Accessed 13 June 2024.
Oxford Languages. “Oxford Languages.” Oxford Languages, Oxford University Press, 2024, languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/.
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