27. 27 school shootings in 2022 alone. We are not even halfway through the year and there have been twenty-seven instances in which 4 or more innocent souls were killed in the place that is supposed to be the safest of them all: their schools. Most children who were born past the mass shooting incident at Columbine High School are familiar with mentally planning out actions in the event a shooter walks in, turning their heads when the door opens, or jumping when an intruder drill starts. Schools should not be a place where children die, so the question is how can we finally end this horrific cycle that we have become desensitized to?
The question has once again garnered national attention with the recent school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas where at least 19 elementary-aged children lost their lives. Because the shooter used an AR-15 (and many other mass shootings are committed with AR-15’s), much of the suggested actions are related to assault weapons. Some argue that only people older than 21 should be able to buy these weapons, while others argue that they should be banned entirely. Some, especially the gun lobby (NRA) oppose any legislation, but some support minimal background checks.
It is difficult to balance the vast viewpoints in the United States, but I believe it is important to take the actions that will save the most lives. To do this, thorough analysis of the impact of these various actions is required. Thankfully, we have some data to look at related to an assault weapon ban as the United States passed a 10-year ban in 1994. During this time, the risk of a US person dying in a mass shooting was 70% lower. The assault weapon ban worked. We must not ignore the dire situation that children and teachers are facing in school environments. It is dangerous, and it should not be. The data tells us that a ban on assault weapons works–so let’s do it. Advocate, call your representatives, send letters. We must end this.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
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