The Struggle To Cope with Mass Shootings

On a quiet Sunday morning in Sutherland Springs, Texas, 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley barged into the local First Baptist Church, clutching a firearm. With 26 deaths and a number of injuries, November 5th, 2017 marked the day of the largest mass shooting in Texas history.

In the weeks following the tragedy, Sutherland Springs has struggled to cope with the grief. According to recent investigations, it should have been illegal for Kelley to acquire the Ruger AR-15 used in the shooting.

In 2012, he was charged with the assault of his ex-wife and her son.However, Kelley’s domestic abuse charges were never recorded by the Air Force, which allowed him to purchase the four guns he used to commit this deadly attack. The Air Force is currently investigating the source of misconduct, but this action is being taken too late.

What’s more troubling is that the Air Force admits to commonly neglecting to record violent offenses of its current or previous employees. So, Kelley is just one of many abusive criminals whose violent records have been forgotten, allowing them to continue accessing deadly weapons.

Sutherland Springs is not an isolated case. Las Vegas authorities failed to notice Stephen Paddock’s questionable behavior when he purchased 33 firearms over a span of 11 months. That October, it took only minutes for Paddock to gun down hundreds of people attending the Route 91 country music festival from his hotel window. The final toll of the shooting found 58 dead and over 546 wounded.

Once again, investigators came to the poorly timed conclusion that had authorities flagged Paddock’s behavior, he would not have been able to commit one of the deadliest mass shootings in US history.

Mass shootings are not new to the headlines. Unimaginable grief and loss in response to these shootings prompted many to advocate for a ban on public access to firearms, to build what they believe will be a safer and more peaceful environment.

However, there is a compelling counterargument to these anti-gun advocates. In response to the growing violence associated with guns, many people have adopted the view that assault weapons should be banned, but all other weapons have the right to remain accessible to the public. This concept endorses a recognition of the Second Amendment, but with appropriate screening.

Something must be done to reduce the number of mass shootings, which has risen from one in 2010 to eleven in 2017. Money can be more productively spent investing in school programs, early screenings for mental health, and social programs for broken families. But what actually works?

The New York Times conducted a study to explore which gun preventative measures are effective, and which ones further exacerbate the problem. After interviewing a handful of America’s best empirical researchers on gun policy, experts in the field most supported heavy restrictions on guns. They called for background checks and barring gun sales to anyone convicted of a violent misdemeanor.

However, after interviewing a sample of the US electorate, the study found that the public was skeptical of aggressive measures, and turned away from platforms like a national gun registry or an assault weapons ban. But both groups still showed strong sentiments towards implementing some form of a federal gun regulation.

Frustratingly, public support does not always translate into legislative action. President Trump announced that he plans to lift restrictions on carrying guns in places like schools and military bases. His administration also argues that gang-related gun homicides are far more prevalent than mass shootings, so efforts should therefore be directed towards funding social programs rather than establishing new laws. Such programs include the expansion of mental health facilities, increased background checks, and a concealed carry legislation that makes permits valid when crossing state borders.

Moving forwards, America must pay more attention to gun legislation. Whether one support aggressive policies or gradual restrictions, it is evident something must be done to prevent the indiscriminate slaughter of innocents. Action must be taken, for a safer America and a safer world.

Originally published at http://montgomerypawprint.wordpress.com on February 20, 2018.