Policy Over Prayers

Once again, tragedy has struck the United States, and six people were fatally shot at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday, March 27th. The victims included three students who were all age 9, a substitute teacher, a custodian, and the school principal. According to the Washington Post, there have already been eighty-nine automatic weapon-related incidents in schools so far in 2023, which is equivalent to one per day. It also reports that seventy-four people have been killed or seriously injured so far this year as well, not including the perpetrators. Gun violence is a serious problem here in the United States, and according to NPR, firearms are now the leading cause of death among children for the first time in history

In no world should children live in a state of fear that they might not make it home from school that day, and it is apparent that serious changes are needed. School children’s biggest concerns should be what games they are playing at recess or what’s on the lunch menu, but instead, their concerns are where they would hide if an active shooter was in their school and how long it would take for police to arrive. In order to make schools a safe place for students, policy change is needed, and that is where elected officials come in. Unfortunately, a common response among current elected officials when a tragedy such as a school shooting occurs is, ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the community.’ 

Well, thoughts and prayers do not protect children from future school shootings. Only urgent policy change can do that. Democrats continue to propose legislation that could help reduce gun violence, but it continues to be shut down by Republicans in office. Some recent proposals by Democrats include The Raise the Age Act, which would raise the age to purchase a firearm to twenty-five. A law already states that only individuals over twenty-one can buy a firearm from licensed dealers, but this rule does not apply to semi-automatic rifles. The majority of gun violence is caused by people under the age of twenty-five, and raising the age to purchase any firearm could drastically decrease the violence. 

Another proposal is the Prevent Gun Trafficking Act. Currently, there is no law to prevent gun sellers from selling a large quantity of firearms, which could easily be distributed across state lines from places with lax gun control to states with strict ones. The Prevent Gun Trafficking Act would make trafficking those guns across state lines a federal offense. Other proposals include Ethan’s Law, the Safe Guns, Safe Kids Act, and the Kimberly Vaughn Firearm Safety Act. All of these bills would ensure the safe storage of guns in a home with small children, and if the gun owners fail to meet the requirements, they will face criminal charges. 

It is very important now, more than ever, to do research and vote for politicians that fight for more gun control and vow to make America a safer place. That is the only way anything more than “Thoughts and Prayers” will no longer be the only response to school shootings. Organizations like Rideshare2Vote work to increase voter participation and elect leaders who prioritize gun violence prevention. 

by  Alivia Lucas