Let´s talk about gun control?
Following the Florida school shooting of February 14th 2018, students, faculty, parents and activists have started an initiative to demand firmer gun control laws and have taken aim at the NRA (National Rifle Association). The school shooting resulted in 17 deaths including students and faculty. The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School started advocating for gun control following the shooting of their classmates and teachers. One of the students; senior Emma Gonzalez, became one of the heads of the movement stating only a few days after the shooting at a march “We call BS!”
Emma Gonzalez, alongside her classmates at the “Never Again” march.
This statement was aimed at the NRA, as well as the politicians and President Trump that deny there should be firmer gun control legislations and laws. The movement has already gotten backlash by NRA officials and citizens who believe this movement endangers or goes against their 2nd amendment right to possess guns. Following the shooting, Florida has changed its legislation concerning the possession of guns by changing the age limit from 18 to 21, banning bump blocks and having a 3 day waiting period for all gun purchases. The NRA filed a lawsuit against Florida with intent of suing stating that “People aged 18 are considered adults for almost all purposes and certainly for the purposes of the exercise of fundamental constitutional rights".
In the year 2018, there has already been 4 mass shootings so far and this is without counting minor shootings which have occurred regularly as well. Despite this, citizens and organizations still refuse to amend or admit that stricter gun control laws must be implemented. This begs the question; how many shootings or deaths will have to occur for the government to install serious legislation changes to the country.
What American citizens fail to comprehend, is that nobody is threatening their 2nd amendment rights at the moment. The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School haven’t requested for the 2nd amendment to be removed, they’ve requested for change in gun laws to ensure that these types of tragedies do not re-occur. What is demanded and what should have already been implemented a long time ago are the following minimal control measures;
Mental-health controls for people trying to purchase firearms.
Age control: 18 year olds shouldn’t be allowed to have access to such weapons.
Criminal history check: A released convict shouldn’t be able to get a firearm.
People should apply for a license and only then be able to get a gun.
Whether people want the 2nd amendment removed or not, this would be unrealistic at the moment given the present atmosphere in the United States. Thus, the US start with firmer laws on guns and continue talking about it to ensure that this type of tragedy doesn’t happen again.
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