Gun violence in America

The deadly epidemic plaguing our nation

Maria Simpson / Asst. News Editor / The USD Vista

The past year has challenged the United States with a wide range of problems, one of the largest being gun violence. It is no secret that gun violence in America has taken an emotional toll on thousands and has taken the lives of far too many. Within just the first four months of 2021, there have already been 147 mass shootings. That’s more than one mass shooting per day. And 147 too many. It is time to put a stop to this unnecessary violence plaguing our nation.

In America today, we hear so many stories in the news about shootings and violence that we have become conditioned to this state of cruelty, as if it cannot be fixed. However, on occasion we hear stories that hit too close to home and, tragic as they may be,  reignite our anger and passion to eradicate this deadly epidemic. For me, it was learning of  a shooting that took place at a high school close to where I live in Tennessee. 

Since the beginning of this year, five students from this high school have been killed as a result of gun violence. It has been painful to dwell on these students, all between the ages of 15 and 17, wondering if I had ever met a friend of theirs or, worse, had I ever competed in a tournament alongside one of these victims. The issue of gun violence often escapes to the back of our minds, barely a wisp of a thought until the fateful day when it becomes a reality in our own lives and jerks us back into a state of mourning and fear.

In 2019, the U.S. had the 32nd highest death rate from gun violence in the world. While many other nations have higher rates, America has an extremely high rate for being as well-off as it is, and stands apart from other nations such as the United Kingdom and Japan which boast rates of 0.04 deaths per 100,000 people and 0.02 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively. Meanwhile, in 2019 the U.S. stood at 3.96 deaths per 100,000 people and it has only increased since then. 

2021 has already seen far too many shootings. Atlanta, GA, Boulder, CO, Orange, CA, Rock Hill, SC, and, most recently, a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, IN in which eight people were shot and killed. California is currently the state with the second highest rate of deaths by gun violence, at a rate of 3,184 deaths per 100,000 people.

It is incredibly sad that no matter how many sons and daughters are taken from their loved ones too soon through gun violence, no matter how many shooting incidents fill our news outlets, this topic remains controversial. While it is important to stand up for our constitutional rights as American citizens, the point where the right to bear arms is doing more harm than good has already arrived. Firearms should be limited to only those with a legitimate need and those owners should be required to follow a lengthy and thorough licensing process, as is the law in many other countries such as Japan and Australia, which did not experience a mass shooting for 20 years after this strict control was set in place. After recent shootings, President Biden came forward, urging Congress to act. “Gun violence is an epidemic in America. But we should not accept it. We must act,” Biden said. On April 7, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a plan of six initial actions to combat gun violence in the U.S. This is a good first step, but executive orders can only help to enforce current laws. Congress will need to step up and provide stronger control in order to really make an impact. 

Gun violence is a horrible plague on our nation and not an easy one to fix. However, it is proven by the examples set by other developed nations that gun control is effective if done right. America needs to implement this kind of control before we lose more loved ones. The right to bear arms should never come before the right to life, and unless the U.S. sees true gun reform, Americans will be doomed to live with the consequences of this violence. 

The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.