In the past few years, there have been several horrific shootings, killing beautiful young people who had their whole lives ahead of them. On Dec. 14, 2012, 26 people were gunned down and killed — 20 children and six educators. On July 13, 2014, Jersey City Officer Melvin Santiago was fatally shot in the head responding to a call to a Walgreen's. Melvin was only 23 years old and was living his dream of becoming a cop like his uncles. On June 11, 2016, YouTube sensation and "The Voice" contestant, Christina Grimmie, aged 22, was fatally shot after her concert in Orlando, FL.
Why do these violent and tragic events keep happening? The answer is America's gun laws aren't strict enough and anyone can legally own a gun. There has to be a change and our government needs to change our gun laws soon.
In the United States Constitution, the second amendment states Americans have the right to bear arms (firearms). This means that anyone can purchase a firearm of any kind and get a firearms permit. I believe that American citizens should be given the privilege of owning a firearm after going through an intensive background check and receiving training on how to use a firearm properly. I believe Americans have the right to defend themselves, but I believe people who struggle from severe mental health issues, or have a close relative with a mental health condition, shouldn't be given the right to have a firearm. I don't believe that everyone with a severe mental illness will become violent and shoot people like Adam Lanza did on Dec. 14, 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School, but the possibility is still there.
This is a very controversial topic because there are the diehard gun people who would fight for having the right to bear arms and the people who are fighting to have stricter gun laws. Let me put this topic in perspective for you. What if you were a parent who kissed your child goodbye before taking them to school and that was the last time you'd ever see them? What if your child left for work as a police officer in a tough area, and they responded to a call and they never came home again? What if your child was a popular singer and held a concert and was shot afterward? How would you feel? I can tell you that you'd be devastated, heartbroken, and searching for answers on why your baby was taken from you so soon and why somebody had to shoot them. That's how 26 families felt on Dec. 14, that's how a mother, stepfather and a little brother felt on July 13, and that's how a family, friends, and fans are feeling now. I believe that owning a gun is a privilege because certain people shouldn't be allowed to own guns.
In Loving Memory Of:
- Rachel D'Avino, 29, teacher's aide
- Dawn Hochsprung, 47, principal
- Anne Marie Murphy, 52, teacher's aide
- Lauren Rousseau, 30, teacher
- Mary Sherlach, 56, school psychologist
- Victoria Leigh Soto, 27, teacher
- Charlotte Bacon, 6
- Daniel Barden, 7
- Olivia Engel, 6
- Josephine Gay, 7
- Dylan Hockley, 6
- Madeleine Hsu, 6
- Catherine Hubbard, 6
- Chase Kowalski, 7
- Jesse Lewis, 6
- Ana Marquez-Greene, 6
- James Mattioli, 6
- Grace Mcdonnell, 7
- Emilie Parker, 6
- Jack Pinto, 6
- Noah Pozner, 6
- Caroline Previdi, 6
- Jessica Rekos, 6
- Avielle Richman, 6
- Benjamin Wheeler, 6
- Allison Wyatt, 6
- Officer Melvin Santiago, 23
- Christina Grimmie, 22
- All the victims at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, FL
