In the wake of the horrible events that took place Monday in Washington D.C., the fervor of gun legislation has once again ramped up in our nation. Even businesses like Starbucks, known to allow customers to carry guns, are having to request that no guns actually be brought into their establishments.
There have been over a dozen mass shootings in the United States in the last 5 years, and it seems as if the debate about banning guns/certain types of guns always follows such events.
What's your take? Are these shootings preventable? Are guns to blame? Partially? Think back to the Sandy Hook shooting; what do you think about the fact that our federal government has not taken any legislative action as a response to this shooting? On the other hand, is it our governments responsibility, or even ability, to confront situations like this? Clearly there is a problem in the United States with violence; whose to blame, and what's the solution?
I believe that the shootings and violence that are seen all too often in our nation stem from the government's inability to provide care for those with mental health issues. Looking back at the shooting that took place in Aurora, Colorado during the premiere of the third Batman movie, there is information that suggests that the gunman was schizophrenic. There is also evidence of psychological issues with the gunman involved in the Sandy Hook shooting. Was there not such a stigma attached to mental health problems in our society and were the government offering appropriate outreach, these men may have received the help and support they needed before taking guns in their hands. In addition, the government could have more regulation over who is able to own a gun. I think improving these two aspects could prevent, or at least lessen, the occurrence of shootings. While it is difficult to face these acts that result in violence and destruction, we must learn from them and progress, rather than sit in stalemate.
ReplyDelete-Nora Harris
I think the shooting are definitely preventable or reduced anyway. Guns are not to blame, it's the people that load the gun and pull the trigger. No body should be able to just walk into a store and buy a gun. There should be background checks for any problems in history where the man or woman attempting to buy a gun. But there are also those times where people are perfectly fine and snap under pressure; and end up doing something to hurt themselves or someone else. There will also be people that will get guns and sell them to people illegally. Anyway, I think the government should say there needs to be background checks and that will hopefully reduce the amount of crime in our country.
ReplyDelete-Austin Bauldry
Guns don't kill people, mentally insane people kill people. Blaming guns on mass shootings is just a cover-up for the poor United States Health-Care system. I agree with Nora on this statement, that more people need medical care for mental diseases. We also need to work on background checks by making them more detailed. Also, mandatory gun safety courses would provide increased safety precautions. There is no true way currently to eliminate mass shootings but we can reduce the risks of them. If the government needs to beef up some rules to try and end these horrendous shootings.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I think it's kind of sad that the only time the gun control issue gets brought up is after a tragic, sometimes fatal, shooting occurs. Shouldn't the government or someone, at least, resolve these shootings before bigger and more deadly shootings are allowed to happen? I do think that blaming inanimate objects is a cover up for the poor healthcare system regarding the mentally disabled, along with Ben. Getting to the root of this problem our nation seems to have, will lessen the shootings, if not get rid of them altogether. Background checks would help, I guess, but they would have to be more detailed than they are right now.
ReplyDelete