On average, 30,000 Americans have perished by gun violence each year since 2006 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To put this in perspective: We’ve lost fewer than 10,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq combined since we first put boots on the ground in 2001. We worry about the war overseas constantly, but neglect the fact that there is already a war on our soil. There’s clearly a gun issue in our country. But what is the solution?
Something has happened throughout human history that has desensitized us to death and, more specifically, guns. I don’t know if it’s playing violent video games, seeing numerous wars throughout our lifetimes or opening up the newspaper to hear of a homicide nearly every day, and just accepting murder as a part of life. The most we are doing about these issues is reading a headline, thinking to ourselves, “Oh, how sad,” and carrying on with our day.
I don’t believe that change is impossible. Gun control — control, not abolition — is worth a shot. You’ll keep your guns and I can keep my change, right? Isn’t that the phrase? No one is trying to rid the country entirely of guns. You can still shoot your deer and turkeys, Mississippi. Gays don’t have equal rights, women are still treated as inferiors, but touch my gun and you’re infringing upon my human rights! We have altered the Constitution before when needed — Prohibition ring a bell? I highly doubt our forefathers ever foresaw the invention of semiautomatic rifles and the formation of malicious gang activity when they were writing the document on which our country is based. Times have changed, and it’s imperative that we do, too.
There’s no denying that a lack of discussion about mental health plays a large role in these attacks. “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” Yeah, okay, I get it. But you also can’t deny society treats people with mental illnesses as lepers. People often hide their mental illness in order to avoid name calling and hatred. More often than not, people suffering mental illness don’t seek the help they need because they’re scared it will surface and don’t want to face the harsh comments and judgment from their peers.
We’ve also been raised on the elusive American Dream, to feel that we should have exactly what we want. We feel entitled to happiness, for a wife or husband, to success, to money. And when we don’t receive it? Well I feel bad for the one in front of the gun. Elliot Rodger, the University of California, Santa Barbara shooter, took it upon himself to kill six people because he thought women didn’t want to have sex with him. I look forward to seeing a generation raising their children who can simply enjoy childhood, rather than raising children who are terrified to walk out of the house each day.
As Americans, we have the right to bear arms per the Constitution. As written in the Declaration of Independence, we also have the unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If we continue to neglect our problems with guns, mental illness, and entitlement, then our unalienable rights are denied. Whether gun control or awareness of our self-obsession will help is a matter only time can tell. I see all ends of the spectrum. I understand why some want laws put in motion, and I understand how people would believe that the laws could never stop the black market completely and guns will always continue to be available. But doing nothing is going to achieve just that—nothing.
Rachel Wilson is an accountancy major from Tupelo.
