We must take action to prevent gun violence, and we must do it now. This statement reflects a strong stance against inaction and calls for immediate action to address gun violence. It emphasizes the need for personal responsibility and a shift in societal attitudes towards gun ownership. The statement’s core message is that individuals must actively engage in preventing gun violence, rather than relying on external forces like federal policies or religious sentiments.
There seem to be two main reactions to school shootings — one is dismissive and denies that America has a gun violence problem altogether, while the other acknowledges the problems but believes they are out of our hands. Both schools of thought share one thing in common — they both halt progress. These shootings will continue to happen if gun legislation gets passed, though it rarely does. Still, as everyday Americans, we have to start shifting our perspective on gun usage if we want to end the trend of mass shootings. To do so, we need to look back to the Second Amendment. We are given the right to bear arms for protection, not to collect as many as we can and certainly not to cause destruction. The shooter of the recent Apalachee High School shooting, Colt Gray, was reported to have been given the AR-15 he used to murder four innocent people as a holiday gift from his father last December. This is the crux of the issue — we need to reform our culture to stop seeing guns as fun items to collect or Christmas presents, but rather as dangerous weapons that should only be used for protection with obvious exceptions. It is only when we become less reliant and sever guns from our core identities that lawmakers will listen to us about gun control.
In Jamelle Bouie’s 2023 New York Times article “America’s Rifle Fetish Is Destroying Its Sense of Freedom,” he writes that gun manufacturers have convinced us to view guns “not as a tool for hobbyists and sportsmen but as a lifestyle accessory that stands for freedom, individualism and masculine self-sufficiency.” Essentially, we are taught by the gun industry to see firearms as a means of self-expression and to covet the perceived power they give us rather than desire them for their actual uses. America is the only country where you can travel down a major highway and see a new billboard advertising another gun superstore every 10 miles. In your average American gas station, you can find all kinds of products advertising the use of guns, such as t-shirts, hats and car stickers. Some of these products are marketed toward children, such as a onesies saying “son of a gun owner.” Guns have become so deeply ingrained in our daily lives and cultural experiences that we see them more as collectibles and commodities than weapons. They are not just valued, but also fetishized. In any other place in the world, it is not normal to dress your infant in a gun-themed onesie and, frankly, it should not be here either.
A. The Second Amendment’s Legacy
B. Guns in American Society
C.
This statistic alone paints a stark picture of the country’s gun culture and the pervasive presence of firearms in American society. The United States has a long and complex history with guns, dating back to the Revolutionary War. The Second Amendment, enshrined in the Constitution, guarantees the right to bear arms.
This is a deeply entrenched issue, and it’s not just about politics. It’s about cultural values, societal norms, and deeply held beliefs. The issue of gun violence in America is a complex one, with no easy solutions.
A. Jordan Ori: A Student Leader Committed to Social Justice
B.
Jordan Ori is a junior at [University Name] majoring in English. He is a Pipe Dream opinions intern and a member of the student government. He is passionate about social justice and has been involved in various initiatives to promote equality and inclusion.
