by Alexandra Frisch

There is a war raging in our country. There are so many dead and yet the enemy remains unseen. And where it will strike next, we cannot know, because this enemy is not a far away country. It’s not a government regime. It’s here. It’s us. It is a part of our society that has spread like a disease, and is just as deadly. The glorification of violence and easy access to guns have played a part in warping the minds of Americans including children and driven them so far off the edge of  sanity that they would kill other children right in their own school.

We live in a culture of violence. Death  and destruction are glorified in movies, television shows and all forms of media. In a typical action movie how often do you see conflicts resolved through anything other than explosions or shootings? Video games that are loved by middle schoolers often include objectives of killing, shooting, maiming, and destroying every living thing in sight. Even in children’s television violence is often portrayed in a comedic ways. In many ways we are encouraged to violence from birth. There are even those who believe that the best way to teach children gun safety is by teaching them to fire a killing weapon at ages as young as 6.   The problems begin when you mix this culture with impulsive teenagers who have direct access to weapons capable of killing untold numbers. Children and teens are naturally more impulsive than adults as the decision-making part of teenage brains are not fully developed.

It’s a nightmare with no sign of ending; the number of shootings increase with every passing decade. In the last January alone there were eight school shootings.  Lately it seems they are barely covered by the news in a media that has become so used to violence, even among children that it has become second page news. How many more deaths of children will we allow? Guns accounted for the deaths of 335,609 people between 2000 and 2010. In the United States there should be tighter laws on guns to help prevent further violent shootings. A policy that tightens gun control is supported by 90% of America. With such laws you would need to provide a legitimate reason for wanting a gun and much more intensive background checks. These checks would look not only into a person’s criminal record but check mental health status as well as any records of domestic disputes or public violence, and would examine not only the person purchasing the gun, but also anyone living with them, who may potentially be unstable. Upon applying laws such as these Australia saw a 50% decrease on gun homicides.

When we see the aftermath of yet another public shooting,  it is my hope that America will we pause a moment in front of our television or computer screens, and  stop whatever it is we are doing and for a moment, take in the names, the faces and the families left behind. It’s a horror we fear for ourselves and for our loved ones.  If all of America would stop and picture themselves and their loved ones as the victims in these violent crimes, would it be enough to cause needed change in our country? By enacting the proper laws untold amounts of lives can be saved. A feat which I wholeheartedly believe any and all inconveniences  is well worth. While we have the right to bear arms, I believe also we have the right and responsibility to protect ourselves and our children.