Gun Control

Gun Control
By: Marvin Toro

Introduction

    With mindless acts of domestic terrorism and senseless shootings becoming so prevalent in our society, it is time to enact gun control on citizens. I believe it should have been done some time ago and our situation only continues to get worse as we see these occurrences become more frequent. 

Research

    In the past 10 years alone there have been 8 mass shootings that have resulted in more than 25 people being shot. Three of those have resulted in more than 35 people being shot. One of those had 70 people injured in Aurora, Colorado during the movie theatre shooting resulting in 12 deaths. Another 107 people were injured in the Orland night club shooting resulting in 49 deaths. The most recent mass shooting in Las Vegas had over 600 people shot with 58 being killed. The two deadliest shootings in US history have come in the past 2 years and there seems to be a trend where people have been able to get a hold of assault rifles and automatic weapons very easily. Even kids have been able to be in possession of firearms.

     In Great Britain, where where firearms are heavily regulated and all but banned there has been exactly 1 mass shooting known as the Cumbria shooting in 2010, in which 23 were injured and resulted in 12 deaths. This is because after one of the deadliest shootings in Great Britain's history occurred in 1996 at a preliminary school where 18 were killed and 15 more were injured, the government decided that gun control was absolutely necessary.

Personal

    
    So with all of these recent mass shootings around us and people being able to acquire guns so easily, why does our government continue to do nothing? It only took one mass shooting to cause firearms to be regulated in Great Britain. Why is it so difficult for our government to do the same even though we clearly need it more?  

    The harsh reality that people living in America must now face when leaving the comfort and safety of their home is that there's always a possibility they might not make it back. These tragic events have become all too common and I feel as though it makes the viewing public lose empathy and almost begin to see these events as normal or part of society. The thing is, events like these can be limited through gun control or stopped altogether and I absolutely believe something should be done.

Community Affected

Name: Ramon Reyes

School: California State University - Northridge

Age: 23

I met Ramon at the dog park and our dogs hit it off so we started chatting it up. I asked him his thoughts about gun control and he said he's all for the idea of gun control. Apparently every other weekend he hears gun shots go off and he never knows if its targeted towards his apartment complex or another so he has to duck and cover as quickly as possible. 

"The streets are always hot. You never know if you'll make it home alive." - Ramon Reyes

Name: Elmer Renderos

School: N/A

Age: 27

I met elmer at a McDonald's and he was friendly so we started talking a bit. I asked him his thoughts about gun control and he said he would love to see the day it happens because guns have affected his life immensely. He has lived in South Central his whole life and has seen loved ones be imprisoned over guns as well as attended many funerals.

"If guns never existed, it would be for the better." - Elmer Renderos

References

http://timelines.latimes.com/deadliest-shooting-rampages/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_in_Great_Britain

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/06/16/gun-violence-united-kingdom-united-states/85994716/