BY: Tori Newman Campbell

Gun control has been a debate that many politicians and journalists have often refused to speak about. There has been no law passed in Congress pertaining to gun control since 1994.

The Second Amendment reads, “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Many people use this as the basis of their argument that it is their right to have a gun. However, no one wants to address the consequences that come from everyone owning a gun.  

There needs to be stricter laws on who can buy a gun and the protocol they go through to acquire it. Consumers shouldn’t be allowed to walk into general merchandise stores and buy guns. For example, a store like Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is one place consumers can go to purchase guns, along with clothes, shampoo and eggs. Tests need to be administered to anyone looking to get a license to carry, the ages of those who can buy a gun need to be increased nationwide and sales need to be barred for those who can’t demonstrate a need for a gun.

Mass shootings and gun violence have become a normalized part of American culture. There are people walking into movie theaters, schools, churches and other places that are deemed “safe” and taking lives.

Polls have been taken on many websites, such as Politico, that have showed the American people being in favor of stricter gun control laws. However, politicians don’t seem interested in what the public is interested in. With interest groups like the NRA, funding re-election campaigns and making donations many members of Congress turn a blind eye to the discussion of gun reform. Whether the discussion takes place before a tragedy to help prevent it or after to ensure it doesn’t happen again, it is safe to say the discussion needs to happen.