America has been known as the Land of Opportunity. The idea of the American Dream, where everyone has equal opportunity to achieve success through hard work and the ever present idea of freedom has been a part of our country since its beginning. America has been a safe haven for immigrants to come to in order to start a new life. How can America be the land of the free and equality if people are getting shot for being gay or for standing up for women's reproductive rights? How can we be a country where innocent people are getting killed for no reason?

In my lifetime beginning in 1996, there have been approximately 61 mass shootings in the United States. Last year alone there were seven mass shootings to occur in a six-month time frame. That says something about this country.

Although yes, it's a Constitutional right to bear arms, we're not living in the 1700s anymore, nor are we fighting a war on our own soil where it's necessary to own weapons anymore. Recently CNN posted an article stating it's easier to get a gun than a dog or a driver's license. Why should it be easier to get a weapon than it is a puppy? The article goes on to state that only 13 states, plus D.C require a license or permit in order to purchase a firearm. There are still 37 other states that you can walk in and buy a firearm, only having to go through a small background check, which in my opinion aren't doing anything anyway, just by looking at the rate of mass shootings occurring over the past 20 years.

However, the idea of regulating gun control has come up a lot recently, as it does every time a mass shooting occurs. Why do we have to wait for something bad to happen, repeatedly to attempt to fix it? Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut filibustered for 14 hours and 50 minutes on gun control. A decision was made to put up for vote on the Senate floor to vote on "People on the terrorist watch list do not get guns and an amendment and to expand background checks to gun shows and to internet sales."

To me both of these are no-brainers. If someone has been proven to be a threat to themselves and other people, they shouldn't be able to buy a gun, and if they expand background checks, and people still want to buy guns, if you have nothing to hide you should be fine. The fact that it's taken this long in the first place to vote on this issue is appalling to me.

In the past 20 years there have been 61 mass shootings, 10 of which were school shootings. If lawmakers don't make this a top priority, where does it end? As much as they have to tighten the regulations on gun control, they also have to look at the mental stability of most of these gunmen, as they have had histories of mental instability. If we maybe helped people who were having issues sooner, if we target bullying before it gets out of hand, maybe it would help. The whole point of the "American dream" bubble is to live a happy, healthy, equal and free life. Sometimes a kind word, or recognizing when someone is in need of help can not only save their own lives, but others as well.