What Activists Are Saying About America’s Gun Violence Crisis

During my children’s spring break this year, I took them on a trip to the zoo. I had purchased tickets in advance, as the zoo was limiting attendance to ensure social distancing. I was vigilant about mask-wearing, even though my son complained about how uncomfortable it felt. We sanitized our hands before and after our visit, doing everything possible to keep them safe from the ongoing pandemic.

While observing the lions, my phone buzzed with a news alert—another shooting. Another instance of innocent lives being shattered in another city. My instinct kicked in, and I looked around, trying to safeguard my children. Despite all the precautions I had taken, the truth loomed large: my kids were not entirely safe. Alongside the pandemic we are trying to shield them from, there exists a national epidemic of gun violence that no amount of masking or hand washing can protect them against. The grim reality is that, in America, a trip to the zoo can be fraught with danger. If it can happen at a grocery store or a nightclub, why not here?

It seems that as soon as we express our “thoughts and prayers” for one tragedy, another occurs. Most recently, on the night of April 15th, a shooter opened fire at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, claiming eight lives and injuring at least seven others. This attack followed other mass shootings earlier in the month, including the Atlanta massage parlor incident that resulted in eight deaths, a grocery store shooting in Colorado that killed ten, and a real estate office shooting in Southern California that left four dead, including a nine-year-old boy.

Gun Violence Is Rampant

The statistics are shocking. From 2015 to 2018, 35,000 children were shot before reaching adulthood, making guns the “third leading cause of death for young people” in the U.S., according to Ambler. Since the Columbine tragedy, around 150,000 children have witnessed gun violence in schools. However, the problem extends beyond educational institutions; children are often exposed to domestic violence, community shootings, and a heightened risk of accidental shootings and firearm-related suicides.

In essence, they are confronted with guns in far too many contexts.

Children Exposed to Gun Violence May Suffer From PTSD

According to Ambler, “Seventeen percent of America’s teens have been exposed to gun violence in some form,” with forty percent of those developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This issue often remains unaddressed. “It’s not just about shootings; it’s also about the anxiety and the broader impacts on children,” said Robyn Thomas, executive director of the Giffords Law Center, in a 2018 interview about how gun violence affects children’s mental health.

Universal Background Checks Are Crucial

The solution to the gun violence epidemic is not more active shooter drills or lockdown procedures but rather legislative changes to make guns less accessible. Ambler emphasized that increased access to firearms correlates with rising community violence and school shootings. Recently, President Biden signed an executive order aimed at tackling gun violence. However, substantial change must come from Congress.

One major reform being advocated is universal background checks. “Universal background checks are the most significant step we can take to reduce gun violence rates and address this public health crisis,” Ambler explained. He highlighted that these checks prevent children from acquiring firearms and stop guns from flowing from states with lax laws to those with stricter regulations.

Moreover, he advocated for child access laws at state and local levels, which restrict firearm access to children.

The Importance of Voting for Gun Reform

Real legislative change requires lawmakers who are willing to act. Despite broad public support for gun laws, few Republicans are willing to take a stand. Former Senator Gregory pointed out that the primary election process often drives this reluctance. Candidates know they are more likely to lose their seats in primaries, where the electorate tends to be more conservative and less supportive of gun control.

He believes that it’s crucial for moderates and concerned voters, especially suburban mothers, to engage in the primary voting process.

It is heartbreaking to consider that our children are growing up in a world where no place feels genuinely safe and where gun violence can occur anywhere. As we slowly emerge from the shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must also confront the underlying epidemic of gun violence that continues to threaten our children. It’s high time we take action.

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Summary:

This article discusses the pervasive issue of gun violence in America, highlighting the alarming statistics related to children and gun violence and the mental health impacts on young people. Activists, including former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, emphasize the need for legislative reform, particularly universal background checks, to reduce gun access. The importance of voting in primaries to drive change is also underscored, as moderate voices must be heard in the legislative process to protect children from gun violence.