Bang! A sharp, explosive sound rings in someone’s ear as they hear screaming in the distance. They see people scrambling in all directions, running frantically for their lives. The screaming seems to get louder as people sob in the distance. It’s a traumatic day for all. This is the reality of experiencing a violent shooting. Since Americans can easily access a gun, the number of shooting crimes increases. Mass shootings usually occur at malls, workplaces, schools, and even neighborhoods.
Gun laws should be stricter so innocent lives are not lost.
First, guns are the biggest weapon issuing suicides. In 2021, 54% of gun-related deaths in the United States were suicides, which were around 26,328 people. Since guns are one of the fastest ways to end a life, suicidal people often opt for this dangerous weapon. Evidence shows that people of younger ages are more likely to have suicidal behavior and act impulsively. If gun control laws were stricter, there would be lower suicide rates, as it would be harder for younger people to access a gun.
Additionally, even people who do not own a gun are still at risk. In 2021, 43% of gun-related deaths were caused by murder, which was around 20,958 people. Innocent people are getting killed each year, as irresponsible people get access to guns. This devastates the families and friends of these victims, as they could have lived longer lives if it weren’t for psychotic murderers. Famous American Presidents such as Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were shot because certain people didn’t like their opinions and perspectives. America’s presidents were killed because of a gun, further showing how dangerous and out of hand these weapons are.
Furthermore, all of these suicides and homicides create a sense of fear throughout communities. People may be too afraid to attend school or health facilities. This creates a big issue because education is important so people can expand their knowledge, and health facilities are essential for a human’s well-being. How are people supposed to enjoy going outside when they have a constant fear nagging on their shoulders of “Am I going to get shot today?”
Some people may argue that America’s Second Amendment states that every American has the right to own a gun for protection. However, this amendment gets abused due to the heartless people who kill innocent lives. If gun laws were stricter, it would be harder for evil people to have access to a gun.
However, Japan, compared to the United States, has a lot fewer gun shooting crimes, as its rules on gun control are much stricter. In 2018, there were only 9 firearm deaths in Japan, while America had 39,740. This is a huge jump, as Japan only had single digits, while the United States almost had 40 thousand deaths. America is the number one country with the most gun-related deaths, while Japan is 20th on the list.
To lessen the number of gun crimes in America, we must pass stricter gun laws. It should be harder for people to buy and access firearms.
What you can do right now is spread awareness about gun dangers and how cruel it is to use them to harm innocent people.
America claims to be the land of the free, but are people free from the constant fear of gun violence?
Infographic Works Cited
CNN: 10 Years After Sandy Hook
History: Columbine High School
Editorial Works Cited
Amnesty International. (2024, January 11). Gun violence – Amnesty International. https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/arms-control/gun-violence/#:~:text=Gun%20violence%20is%20a%20daily,to%20health%2C%20education%20and%20life
Bushard, B. (2022, July 8). Here’s how Japan’s low gun death rate compares to the U.S. and other countries. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/07/08/heres-how-japans-low-gun-death-rate-compares-to-the-us-and-other-countries/
Constitutional Amendments – Amendment 2 – “The right to keep and bear arms.” (n.d.). Ronald Reagan. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/constitutional-amendments-amendment-2-right-keep-and-bear-arms#:~:text=%E2%80%9CA%20well%20regulated%20Militia%2C%20being,own%20weapons%20predates%20the%20Constitution
Geiger, A. (2024, April 14). What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/26/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-u-s/
What science tells us about the effects of gun policies. (n.d.). RAND. https://www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/key-findings/what-science-tells-us-about-the-effects-of-gun-policies.html#:~:text=These%20laws%20may%20impede%20access,violence%20reduce%20intimate%20partner%20homicides
