In the wake of the worst U.S. massacre (so far) in Orlando, Florida at the gay nightclub, Pulse, the nation is re-evaluating its relationship with firearms, mental health and national security.
However, there has been particular emphasis on revising the U.S. gun regulations. Some notable congressmen and congresswomen (Senator Udall, Senator Bennet, Senator Hirono, Senator Heinrich, Senator Reed, Senator King, Senator Warren, Senator Carter, Senator Schatz and several more) are pushing to pass legislation to reform the nation’s gun policy. They were all in support of Senator Murphy’s 15-hour filibuster on June 16.
If they are successful, it will be the first revision to our policy in a number of years. Shortly after the massacre, Senator Chris Murphy held a record-breaking filibuster on the very issue.
The purpose of the filibuster was to pass two key pieces of an amendment that would help prevent such a tragedy from recurring: one would prevent suspected terrorists on the terrorist watch list (like the gunman in Orlando) and the other would expand background checks.
In the wake of yet another tragic massacre, we are forced to come to terms with the issues that are tearing our nation apart.
Despite the most recent tragedy and previous tragedies such as San Bernardino, Calif with 36 victims, Colorado Springs, Colo. with 11 victims, Roseburg, Ore. with 18 victims, Chattanooga, Tenn. with 9 victims, Charleston, S.C with 9 victims and many more as far back as 1984 (the full list can be found here). With all of this said, access to firearms is still not the problem.
So pray tell, might you ask, is the problem?
The truth of the matter is that there is not a problem.
The truth of the matter is that there are many problems:
Alcoholism
Gang Violence
Broken Families
Islamophobia
Domestic Violence
Broken Communities
Misogyny
Failing incarceration system
Xenophobia
Homophobia
Sexism
Mental Illness
Racism
Ignorance
Indifference
Hate
Donald Trump
And last but not least……………….
GUNS
Will creating more stringent requirements in order to access a firearm cure the many problems we face?
Of course not, and the suggestion that it will is wishful thinking.
However, it is a step in the right direction.
So no, guns are not the problem regarding violence and tragedies. They are one of many problems we face.
Passing logical gun reform is a step in the right direction to cure our nation of this epidemic of gun violence.
We must start somewhere. However, the recent failure on June 20 to pass common sense gun reform has me doubtful that we will not experience relief any time soon.
Common sense gun reform (that failed) include:
- People on the federal terrorism watch list and other terrorism databases cannot buy firearms or explosives.
- Expanded background checks on all gun buyers.
Jennifer Steinhauer (@jestei) wrote a thorough article for The New York Times giving some context as to why these reforms cannot seem to pass the Senate. Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) also wrote an article describing the political tension in Senate on this issue for Politico.
