Beyond the Debate: Finding Common Ground on Gun Safety

It’s a controversial subject filled with emotion and positions that divide our friends and family. It’s such a delicate subject that we didn’t really want to tackle it… But we are going to make an attempt to lay it all out in an honest way.  “Politics, Why Bother?” 

Arguments for:

• Self-defense and personal protection

• Deterrent against government tyranny

• Preservation of individual liberty

Arguments against:

• The world has changed in 250 years

• Community safety concerns due to gun violence

• Advances in military technology making civilian resistance less feasible

A lot of Americans in favor of the amendment fear that the government is trying to take away their guns–maybe in preparation for martial law–while those against the amendment fear the continuing rise of gun violence and the loss of innocent lives. It's an issue that every person should be informed on, so let’s first take a look at the history of gun violence and safety in the USA.

Let’s start with an association that helped spark the debate. (You can never avoid the NRA while talking about gun safety.)

The National Rifle Association and gun advocates have claimed for over 50 years that presidential candidates would "take away your guns" However, the reality is that no president or administration has ever confiscated guns.

The truth is somewhere between the extremes of guns. Most proposals focus on safety, not “taking away guns”. Since none of us can make the changes ourselves, we have to contact our representatives and demand the changes we want. They usually lean towards the money…we all know that. 

The Facts

• Gun violence in the U.S. is considered a Public Health Crisis.

• Guns are the leading cause of death for children.

• Guns are most often used in domestic violence against women.

• Over half of U.S. adults have either experienced gun-related violence themselves or have a family member who has.

Gun Death Rates

• The U.S. gun death rate is 400% higher than other countries.

• In 2022, there were 27,032 firearm suicides.

• 71 people died, on average, by gun suicide each day in the U.S.

Mass Shootings

(An incident where four or more people are shot):

• In 2023, there were 346 school shootings, averaging nearly 1 per day

• In 2024 

• We have approximately 603 mass shooting events per year

School Shootings

• In 2023, there were 346 school shootings, averaging nearly 1 per day

No matter what side you identify with, we are all impacted by gun violence!

Is There Anything We Can Do?

(Hint: Yes, there is always a solution!)

To make schools and people safer, we could:

Arm teachers/more armed police/reinforce doors and windows/install metal detectors

• This could deter would-be shooters if they knew they were putting themselves in danger while trying to harm others.

• In general, it could make people feel safer.

However, it could also pose challenges:

• It could make schools, churches, grocery stores, etc.) feel like prisons.

• Accidents could happen with more guns around kids and in our communities.

• Teachers might not want this extra job that can come with risks.

• It doesn't solve the bigger problem of why shootings happen.

However, here are some potential solutions that people from both sides of the aisle tend to agree on:

• Improve mental health care.

• Teach people empathy and how to handle emotions and conflicts.

• Teach people how to handle emotions and conflicts.

• Make it harder for dangerous people to get guns.

• Consider a gun safety and competency class.

• Help communities work together to spot and help troubled people early.

Although it can be hard to see the side of the issue that is not our own, we can find ways to keep people safe while respecting our rights.

If this issue is important to you, go to Politics, Why Bother? and post about it. Once you engage others in a conversation, then go to the IssueVoter app, and easily send a message to your representatives about how you feel.