Why Does the U.S. Lead the World in Gun Violence?

Another devastating mass shooting- this time a school massacre of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas- has once again re-opened the conflicted public debate about gun violence in America.  The horror of this latest shooting comes on the heels of another despicable shooting massacre of 10 innocent people of color in a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.  Once again, we are lamenting the tragic loss of life that erupts from deranged people who perpetrate human carnage with legally acquired guns.  And once again, we are hearing urgent pleas for lawmakers to do something to curb gun violence.

The question that keeps coming up is why the U.S. leads the so-called developed nations in the world in the number of cases of horrific gun violence.  The varying answers to this question reveal the impasse this nation seems to have in doing something constructive to prevent these mass shootings from occurring again and again.  Some of us think these shootings are rooted in mental health issues among the individuals who unleash their anger and resentments on innocent people.  Others of us think these shootings can be traced to our gun culture and the lack of restrictions on deadly firearms.   Another segment of America argues that the lack of morality and respect for life is the core issue in these disturbing examples of gun violence.  A few of us seem to think that racist fears and distorted ideological beliefs animate such violence.  In many respects, the troubling answer may be “all of the above”.

When it comes to addressing the question as to what can be done to reduce or prevent gun violence in this country the solutions that are offered usually take an “either/or” binary perspective rather than a “both/and” strategy.  Consequently, gun owners point out that guns don’t kill, people do, so stricter gun laws are not the solution.  Meanwhile, gun law advocates suggest that those not old enough to buy alcoholic beverages should not be permitted to buy lethal military-style assault weapons or high-capacity automatic handguns nor should anyone be allowed to buy guns without a license in the same way we can’t drive a car legally without a license.   Finding constructive solutions to address mental health issues is even more problematic when state governments are unwilling to fund the increasing need for mental health services.  The same obstacles arise with concerns about addressing moral issues or racist ideologies when culture war enthusiasts object to racist history or sex education being taught in public schools.

As a gun owner with a concealed handgun permit and someone trained by the U.S. Army to be proficient in using an automatic military weapon, it is difficult for me to justify any citizen owning a lethal military-style assault weapon solely on the basis of a Constitutional right.   As someone who has to renew my driver’s license on a periodic basis in order to operate a motor vehicle, I believe that public safety requires accountability and responsibility from all of us, especially when it comes to guns.  Requiring criminal background checks on the sale of all guns is a matter of accountability which I would hope everyone who believes in law and order should support.   In seeking solutions to America’s gun violence epidemic, one thing is very clear today- arguing over the most impactful deterrent is getting us nowhere.  Common-sense solutions to gun violence must be multipronged to address the multiplicity of factors in mass shootings.  I argue that taking an absolutist position on the Second Amendment rights to own guns of any type is socially irresponsible.

As I listen to the solutions being proposed some are practically idiotic or fly in the face of an open and democratic society.  Arming teachers to defend their classrooms should be eliminated simply because of the difficulties of getting classroom teachers or school security personnel trained and equipped to use firearms to protect themselves and their students against someone with an assault weapon.  Screening for weapons and making schools, churches, and public venues secure is neither cost-effective nor reflective of their mission.   Arming everyone for self-defense and agreeing on a shared morality to instill in our citizenry seems practically improbable given the culture wars going on among us today.  Identifying troubling mental health issues to initiate an intervention to prevent a violent act will cost billions of dollars and would likely be challenged as an infringement on personal liberty.

A recent Washington Post article suggested that research into gun violence in America reveals that many of the proposed laws being debated in Congress probably would not have much impact on curbing the mass shootings that have taken place around the country. But most of these laws restricting easy access to high-capacity assault weapons and handguns could lessen the severity of the mass shootings and might also bring down overall gun violence.

Beyond the issue of a Constitutional right for citizens to keep and bear arms, there is evidence from other nations about the importance of strengthening gun laws to mitigate mass shootings.  The inflection point for modern gun control in Australia was the Port Arthur massacre of 1996 when a young man killed 35 people and wounded nearly two dozen others. The rampage, perpetrated with a semiautomatic rifle, was the worst mass shooting in the nation’s history. Less than two weeks later, the conservative-led national government pushed through fundamental changes to the country’s gun laws in cooperation with the various states and territories, which regulate firearms. The National Agreement on Firearms all but prohibited automatic and semiautomatic assault rifles, mandated licensing and registration, and instituted a temporary gun buyback program that took some 650,000 assault weapons (about one-sixth of the national stock) out of public circulation. Among other things, the law also required licensees to demonstrate a “genuine need” for a particular type of gun and take a firearm safety course. After another high-profile shooting, in Melbourne in 2002, Australia’s handgun laws were tightened as well. Many analysts said these measures were highly effective, citing declines in gun-death rates and gun-related mass killings.

The Mayors Against Illegal Guns has developed a COMMON-SENSE PROPOSAL FOR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION noting that most Americans believe that support for the Second Amendment should not allow criminals and emotionally disturbed people to have easy access to lethal weapons. Ø Their proposal seeks to make it harder for dangerous people to buy guns and easier for police and prosecutors to stop them. These civic leaders support legislation that will: • Require every gun buyer to pass a criminal background check • make military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines illegal • Make gun trafficking a federal crime. ØRecognize that background checks are the only systematic way to stop felons, domestic abusers, and other dangerous people from buying guns. Adding gun safety training requirements and licensing would only strengthen this common-sense approach to mitigating our nation’s rampant gun violence problem.  The only real obstacle to this pathway to gun violence prevention is the partisan politics in Washington.  The voting public who are for sensible gun regulations and gun safety measures will have to remove those obstacles.