Mass Shootings Becoming Far Too Regular In America

 

Mass Shootings Becoming Far Too Regular in America  

In 2022, 288 mass shootings and counting have occurred in the United States. America leads the nation with this large number. The next country with the most shootings this year is Mexico, with just eight.  

Shootings in 2022 around the world 

    Mass shootings are acts of murder upon a group of people of 4 or more. Mass shootings are often done in public settings such as schools, protests, or big events involving many people. The reasonings behind these shootings are mental illness, gun owner eligibility, and the selection of firearms. There are viable solutions that would lead to fewer deadly mass shootings. Background checks, a higher age requirement, and less accessibility to dangerous firearms would result in less mass shootings.  
        In an article by the National Library of Medicine, the authors state that “reports suggest that up to 60% of perpetrators of mass shootings in the United States since 1970 displayed symptoms including acute paranoia, delusions, and depression before committing their crimes.” Many people go through short periods of panic and feel as if they are spiraling. This leads them to make impulsive decisions and choose violence instead of seeking help. Many times, these people who are mentally unwell do not choose to get help.  
    With the current gun laws, usafacts.org says people who are prohibited from purchasing a gun include those who have been deemed as mentally unfit by a court and those who have been admitted to a mental health facility.  There are many people who have some type of mental illness, but this does not mean that all these people are admitted to a mental health facility. At times, many people who need help from a facility refuse to accept help, let alone be admitted. Some people who have mental illness may not even know, as they never go to a therapist or doctor to even be diagnosed in the first place. This leaves many people who may have a mental illness still available to purchase a firearm. Moments of downward spiraling can often occur.  Paymentcloudinc.com says that there is no current federal waiting period to purchase a gun. Background checks are not required for people who purchase guns from private sellers. Without giving a background check to these people, a firearm could be put into the hands of the mentally unstable. Many people may say that background checks simply don’t work, but we don’t necessarily know that until we truly try. Many people think guns can be obtained regardless of background checks. However, with further look into people behind the shootings, history of mental illness, trauma, and other offenses have come up. More in-depth checks can help prevent a firearm getting into the hands of someone who may be dangerous.  

There are many laws and regulations Americans are meant to abide by. In America, 18 is to be seen as an adult. This also then allows for an 18-year-old ‘adult’ to purchase a firearm. An 18-year-old is prohibited from alcohol until the age of 21. This policy is because the brain is not mature enough yet. In an article published by Jama Pediatrics, it is said that “Youth and young adults are at higher risk of violent behavior toward themselves and others, owing in part to biological processes during adolescence and early adulthood; the brain areas that govern capabilities for risk-reward assessment and impulse control are still developing well into the early 20s.” The researched information tells how the brain is not fully developed, which is why alcohol is not permitted before this age. If a younger person cannot be trusted with alcohol at the age of 18, they surely should not be trusted to be able to purchase a firearm.    

AR-15 in War Combat 

Many shootings have come to the world news due to large numbers of people killed. The Texas Uvalde school shooting occurred just this year. This shooting was blasted across many news sources. The difference about this shooting compared to the other hundreds this year is the gun that was used. An AR-15 was used by an 18-year-old male. The abilities of this gun are frightening. wired.com says, “The bullet from an AR-15 does an entirely different kind of violence to the human body. It’s relatively small, but it leaves the muzzle at three times the speed of a handgun bullet. It has so much energy that it can disintegrate three inches of leg bone.” The bodies of the children were unrecognizable after the shooting, leaving parents unsure if their child was found dead. These guns were made for war but have become available to any citizen. The availability of this type of gun to a newly 18-year-old boy is astonishing, and this type of gun should not be allowed in the hands of anyone who has intentions of harm.  

Thousands are killed each year due to mass shootings. Americans may make the argument that if we let these restrictions be made, it will simply open the door to more restrictions in the future. They believe it will ultimately get rid of the second amendment. This is unlikely because of how much pride many Americans take in the second amendment. Due to this big fear, many congressmen, and government officials promise this right to stay afloat. These mass shootings occur due to the mental illness of the shooter, gun owner eligibility laws, and the selection of firearms. These shootings can be stopped with more thorough background checks, a higher age requirement, and less accessibility to extremely dangerous firearms. Many are afraid to make the change, but America should worry about the number of lives killed before action is taken to change these now regular occurrences.