A Choice Has To Be Made: The Guns Or The People
The second amendment may be a right to all Americans, but it infringes on the right of their fellow citizens to feel safe by enabling people to purchase weapons of war using a broken system. Gun control is an expense America cannot afford to skimp on with the ever-growing epidemic of mass shootings and overall gun violence. This has become more of an eerie reality for society today, as it seems more and more common to hear about a mass shooting on the news, such as the recent school shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California. It was November 14th, 2019, that two young lives were lost and three more injured at the hands of a sixteen-year-old-gunman wielding a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol in the school’s quad.
Mass shootings in America have exponentially increased. As of November 17th, there have been 369 mass shootings in 2019, meaning that there have been more mass shootings in America than days in the year, a figure that is concerning. Instead of working towards a solution for this, we throw around accusations at each other in the midst of an epidemic. When the ease of purchasing firearms, it only takes minutes to acquire such an object in thirty-six states. We as a society have to do better. There is too much at stake.
Gun advocates argue that areas with gun control harbor the most gun violence, however, places such as California cannot thwart the mishaps caused by the leniency of other states. One gunman in July of 2019 legally obtained a semi-automatic assault rife in Nevada, brought it across state lines to Gilroy, California, and opened fire at a local festival. The process of purchasing a weapon needs to improve in all states in the country to support gun control. In states such as Idaho, Florida, Colorado, and thirty-three more, a person legally does not need a license, permit, or registration to buy a firearm. In Kansas, one doesn’t need any of these items to buy or carry a firearm. Essentially, if one has no criminal record, they can obtain a firearm with ease.
Private sellers taking up shop to fatten their checks with the amount of money made from easy purchases does not help the situation anymore. Laws were passed stating private sellers had to conduct background checks on customers, however they are rarely enforced. The United States manufactures more than 10 million firearms a year, but with private sellers, only about a few million actually are being registered. Objects that have the power to end someone’s life should not be let lose in the world, millions untraceable.
It is commonly argued that the amount of media coverage mass shootings and gun violence attracts only encourages violent behavior and more shootings and that shootings are actually very rare. One study corroborates that there is a contagion from the media coverage of mass shootings due to the way they are covered. It would be more beneficial to instead of focusing the attention on the perpetrators to shed light on the bravery of those affected and how despite the atrocity survivors endure, they form a community, unite, and inspire love in a time when it can become easy to fall victim to hate. The world needs to see this part of the story.
With the firearm-homicide rate twenty-five times higher than other leading nations, there were almost 10,000 gun deaths by September 01. The time between mass casualty shootings is shortening, often to less than 24 hours. It is clear the only remedy to this disease is gun control. There are too many to get around the rules which are unstable, rules that need fixing, adjusting, and revising. Stricter gun laws would save lives all over the country. People should not be afraid to leave their homes, children should not have to worry where to hide if someone walks into their class with an assault rifle, and this epidemic should not be seen as normal. It should not be expected. We can do better. There is a choice to be made: protecting the guns, or protecting the lives of not only citizens now, but generations to come.
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Newspaperlessness 
Here we go.
The second amendment is a right granted to all Americans, but it infringes on the right of fellow citizens to feel safe by enabling people to purchase weapons of war and violence without safeguards. Gun violence is an assault that America cannot afford. The ever-growing epidemic of mass shootings and overall gun violence demand our attention. We occupy an eerie reality in which mass shootings are commonplace, like the slaughter at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California on November 14th, when two young lives were lost and three more children were injured by a sixteen-year-old wielding a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol in the quad.
Mass shootings in America have exponentially increased. By November 17th of this year, there had been 369 mass shootings, more than one a day. Instead of working to reduce these damning statistics, however, we throw accusations at each other in the face of an epidemic. States make it so easy to purchase a firearm that in 36 states it can be done in minutes. We need to do better. There is too much at stake.
Gun advocates argue that places with strict gun laws have the worst gun violence. But California, with some of the strictest gun laws in America, cannot help but neighbor more lenient states. One gunman in July legally obtained a semi-automatic assault rifle in Nevada, brought it across state lines to Gilroy, California, and opened fire at a local festival. For stricter gun laws to function, they must improve nationally. In Kansas, a person can buy a firearm without a license, permit, or registration! And in 36 other states, at least one of those documents is unnecessary. There, anyone with no criminal record can obtain a firearm with ease.
Private sellers are even less scrupulous than legitimate dealers. Laws requiring them to conduct background checks on customers are rarely enforced. Of the 10 million firearms manufactured in the United States every year, only a few million are registered. Deadly weapons should not be loose in the world, untraceable.
Gun advocates say shootings are actually rare and that media coverage encourages more shootings than it prevents. One study corroborates that media coverage creates contagion; however, that could be stopped by spotlighting the bravery of the victims instead of the actions of the perpetrators. Despite the atrocity they endure, survivors are forming communities, inspiring love at a time when it could be so easy to surrender to anger. The world needs to see that part of the story. With almost 10,000 gun deaths by September 01, the time between mass casualty shootings is shortening, often to less than 24 hours.
The US firearm-homicide rate is 25 times higher than other leading nations. Clearly, gun control is the only remedy. We can do better. Too many unfit people can buy weapons legally. Too many regulations are equivocal, or vague, or unenforced. Rules need fixing, adjusting, revising. A national set of gun laws would save lives all over the country. People have a right to leave their homes without fear, schoolkids should not be planning where to hide if someone walks into their class with an assault rifle, and this epidemic should not be seen as normal. It is not acceptable. We can do better. We have a choice: protect the guns, or protect the lives of citizens now and in the future.
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Hi professor! I’m wondering if my points are connecting properly, I feel as though I am still struggling with making my ideas flow fluidly and my transitions from point to point are a little all over the place. Also, if you notice anything else that needs improvement do not hesitate to let me know if you have any time.
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Well, you’re right, Wordsmith; your ideas do tumble over rocks of your own placing, and they do meander. I wonder if you’d like to engage in an experiment in which I rephrase your work by removing all the extraneous language and adornments that obscure your meanings. Once we simplify your language, I think you’ll find it’s much easier to transition from each clearly expressed idea to the next.
Do I have your permission to do that?
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Of course! It never hurts to improve!
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