In the text “Mass shootings” by Micheal Ray, the central idea is that gun control is that there are events that occur in the United States that fuel the push for gun restrictions, these events are referred to as school shootings. In support of their central idea, the author writes “In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, some, including Pres. Barack Obama called for a renewed ban on assault weapons and for tighter background checks. Others, chief among them the National Rifle Association, resisted any gun restrictions as unacceptable”. This supports the central idea because it shows the revolutionary impact it had on American society. We see this when it states that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting pushed Barack Obama to call for a renewed ban and tighter background checks. The author also writes “Others, chief among them the National Rifle Association, resisted any gun restrictions as an unacceptable infringement on the Second Amendment”. This supports their central idea because it demonstrates the responses towards these gun restrictions being enforced. In this case, the National Rifle Association refused to accept any of the restrictions being passed after these Mass shootings in Texas, U.S. because they believed it violated the Second Amendment. This strongly demonstrates the intensified debates from this push for gun restrictions. A final piece of evidence that supports their central idea is when the author writes “While mass shootings are most common in the United States, there have been notable incidents in countries around the world. In many cases, governments have responded to these attacks by introducing significant gun-control measures”. This supports the central idea because it states the gun violence issues in the United States and around the world and how it encourages other governments to impose restrictions on their gun rights. On the other hand, the issue is that because of the Second Amendment, putting restrictions will cause people to feel as if their rights are being violated because in some way it is. This shows the huge controversy that the nation suffers continuously hence proving that events relating to gun violence in the U.S. such as school shootings have fueled the push for gun restrictions and gun-control debates.
I think that it is understandable why citizens of the United States push for more gun control/restrictions. It is sad to see that most cases of gun violence in the U.S. include a school setting. Children and citizens, in general, should not live with the fear of their school possibly getting shot up. Although I may understand why people may want to be stricter on firearms, I don’t think it necessary to add many restrictions. I do though think that it is very necessary to have tighter background checks, especially because shooters who commit these school shootings are mostly claimed mentally unstable.
As I continue to learn about gun control/violence. I want to know more about why gun control is such a big issue in the United States.
