Last week, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with an AR-15 assault rifle. He killed 17 people and wounded more. This marked the 18th school shooting in the US since the first of this year.
Gun control is a hot issue in the United States. Every new incidence of gun violence sparks the debate about what should be done to handle our uniquely-American problem of mass shootings. The debate is highly political and emotionally charged, and as a result of this disagreement things do not change and shootings continue.
Despite differences of opinion, most Americans that we shouldn’t have to worry about sending our children to their schools or going into public places. If you share this opinion and want to take action, here are a few ways to start.
1. Make your representatives hear you.
Call, email, write letters. Send messages on Facebook, send tweets…and repeat! Change starts small. Congress has overall power over federal gun legislation, but your state and local officials are the people who will hear your voice loud and clear. Follow this link to find out who you should contact.
2. Stop buying assault rifles.
Every time that an AR-15 is used in a mass shooting, sales skyrocket. The last thing we need is more combat-grade weapons out in the world–even for law-abiding citizens. Just don’t buy them.
3. VOTE
Understand your politicians’ stances on gun reform and use your vote to support those with logical policies. Be part of the only 30% of Americans who vote in non-presidential elections.
4. Support “No Check No Sale”
A loophole in the 1993 Brady Bill allows consumers to purchase a gun without passing a background check if the check is not able to be completed within 3 days. However, some retailers (like Walmart) have their own policies that prohibit sales without a completed background check. Sign this petition to change sale policies at Cabela’s and call on all other gun retailers to demand that they all do the same.
5. Support a Gun Violence Prevention Organization
Donate time or money or show your support for an organization that is working to reduce gun violence. Here is a list of reputable organizations to get you started.
6. Support mental health initiatives
After every mass shooting, you’re sure to hear the argument that we have a “people-problem” and “not a gun problem.” Whether or not you agree with this statement, it is true that mental health is a problem in this country that needs to be addressed. Show support for all of the people around you and be compassionate towards those showing signs of mental concerns. Do what you can for your friends and family, and advocate for less stigma and more accessible mental health services for those in need (start here).
7. Educate yourself
Understanding a problem is the first step to solving it. Fact check the articles you see on Facebook, learn about state and federal gun laws, and try to really see all of the angles of this complicated problem. That way, you’ll know what to say when faced with a gun control argument. The more you know, the more you can change.