This past Sunday, tragedy shook Orlando to its very core. Omar Mateen went into the Pulse nightclub and took the lives of 49 people. This horrific event has shattered our nation and the LGBT and Latino communities. The heinous act of terrorism is the worst mass shooting in U.S. history and will, along with the victims, be remembered by future generations. My heart goes out to the victims, families, and loved ones of all those affected by the event. This is a time that America needs to come together as a nation and move on stronger and more determined than ever before.
Being the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, it has sparked a new flame in the gun control debate. Many are calling for stricter background checks and total bans on assault-style weapons. Others are even calling for a total repeal on the second amendment. While the cases are valid and the opinions should be heard, gun control is not the necessarily the easiest answer for lowering the rates of mass shootings. Furthermore, the repealing of the second amendment is too drastic an option and would only endanger the lives of citizens in the long run. The second amendment is a valuable piece of American culture and, while it should be modified, it must also be protected.
Gun education could be key role in not only ensuring the place of the second amendment, but also a key to keeping the public safe. Many U.S. citizens are not familiar or educated when it comes to firearms and firearm safety. This can clearly be seen in the "assault rifle" debate. Many see weapons, such as the AR-15, as a high-grade military weapon, when in reality this is not the case. The AR-15 is simply a semi-automatic rifle, which means one trigger pull, one bullet fired. It is not a fully automatic, bullet-spraying machine gun. Once the public is educated on guns and gun safety, the fear of guns will decrease dramatically and in turn the public will be aware of guns and the purpose they hold in society.
It is a fact that getting a gun in America is relatively easy. One must fill out the 4473 form provided by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This is filled out by entering your name, address, social security number, and answering a series of yes or no questions. The prospective buyer may have to go through a waiting period before legally owning the gun. While this is a good starting point for a system, it is by no means perfect. For example, Mateen previously had close ties with Islamic extremist groups such as ISIL, Al-Nusra, and Al-Qaeda. The FBI knew about these ties, and had even gone as far as to investigate Mateen. He, however, was still able to legally purchase a firearm.
Stricter background checks are a must for proper gun reform. A man like Mateen, who had a history of Islamic radicalization, violent outbursts, and mental health issues, should most certainly not be able to purchase a weapon. Being placed on a FBI watch list, especially for something as extreme as Islamic radicalization, should be an immediate red flag and prohibit the right to gun ownership. Gun shops and shows along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives should work closely with the FBI in order to keep guns out of the wrong hands. These background checks must also dive into the owner's history of mental health, ensuring that they are mentally capable and able to own a weapon. Stricter background checks are an integral piece of the puzzle for prevention of tragedies such as the Orlando attack.
While stricter background checks are beneficial to both gun rights activists and to the general population, completely banning firearms will only do more harm than good. It is well-documented by reports from groups such as the Department of Justice that when responsible law-abiding citizens own firearms, violent crimes drop dramatically. When responsible, stable gun owners are able to purchase and carry firearms, those who aim to do harm are often deterred and stopped in their tracks during violent attacks.
Guns are not the enemy. Violent, angry, unstable and hateful people who wish to hurt those around them are the true enemy. We as a nation must do what we can to keep guns out of the hands of people like this. However, we must not overreach and disarm responsible, law-abiding citizens. Responsible gun owners are often the first line of defense against those who wish to carry out attacks against the general public. While it must not be incredibly easy to obtain a gun in America, we must work to ensure that they are still accessible to those who are responsible and law-abiding.
