Hayward, CA — As the year 2023 comes to a close, the numbers surrounding school shootings in the last 12 months have been devastating. The recent shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus marked the 80th school shooting in 2023, according to CNN. This is only a fraction of the total mass shooting incidents that have occurred in the United States.
With so many politicians in office who have been advocating for restricted gun control, it begs the question: Why has nothing changed?
According to the Pew Research Center, over half of the adult population in the United States believes that gun violence in general is a problem. In the same survey, many people have expressed that the ease of obtaining a gun in the United States is part of the problem. Compared to countries with stricter gun ownership laws, the U.S. has a marginally higher rate of gun violence and deaths, according to a story from NPR.
School shootings occur so frequently that it’s essentially become a negative staple in American culture. The fact that so much gun violence occurs in our country has been used as a campaign promise by several presidential candidates. President Joe Biden has proposed measures to reduce gun violence in 2023. And yet, the story stays the same. Gun violence has seemingly been an unchanging issue within the U.S. and there needs to be a definitive solution to this fatal problem.
After the UNLV shooting occurred, several people reacted to the tragedy. LeBron James was vocal about his feelings on the lack of gun control.
@cnn Los Angeles Lakers superstar, LeBron James says it’s “ridiculous” that innocent lives are being taken by gun violence, as he addressed the gun situation in the United States following Wednesday’s shooting on the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) campus. #CNN #news #LasVegas ♬ original sound - CNN
A student at UNLV expressed a bittersweet sentiment towards the situation as he was upset at the deaths but relieved that the response was fast.
@abcnewslive "You're calling your family, texting your friends like 'I love you guys' because he could burst through the door at any minute." A #UNLV student joins #KNTV after a suspect is dead following reports of an #activeshooter at the university, according to #LasVegas ♬ original sound - ABC News Live
The United States was founded on ideals of freedom, and the right to bear arms has been a unique part of American political discourse. Regardless of what gun ownership means to people, it should not entail the deaths of children who were in safe spaces such as their school. Based on statistics of countries with less gun violence, it seems like the most effective solution to mass shootings is to make it more difficult to purchase guns. Guns are primarily purchased for personal protection, according to Pew Research. That being said, American gun culture has not made schools any safer. Nobody should have to die before effective gun laws are set in place to protect people from gun violence.
Noumaan Faiz (he/him), is a journalist and entertainer from Hayward, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods