Gun violence is a concern that has plagued the U.S. time and time again, year after year. Concerns about gun violence have been present in the polls, every election day. Violent crime rates are high in places throughout the United States, such as West Palm Beach, which has the same rate as Chicago. People in West Palm Beach have created anti-violence workshops, which educate kids about the effects and severity of gun violence. In order to combat high homicide rates and violent crime rates, local officials need to show support for law enforcement, who shall act with responsibility and ethics in situations. Morale is low in police departments across the country, leading to understaffing and less experienced officers. Although public mass shootings typically capture the public’s attention, they comprise only one percent of all deaths from firearm violence. Between 2020 and 2021, the firearm homicide rate increased by 15%, resulting in an average increase of 45% across the states from 2019 to the start of 2022. There has also been a drastic increase in the purchasing of firearms, and purchasing has seen an increase starting in January of 2020. There are many factors that lead to violence, such as socio-economic levels in an area or region. By spreading awareness, we can counteract this factor. In the political realm, Republicans need to take a stance against gun violence in the legislature. Their impact is unmatched in preventing gun violence, as often conservatives are advocates for a lack of gun reform. Together, it will take a village to combat gun violence, but is a dire issue in our nation.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/12/opinions/gun-violence-crime-solutions-roundup/index.html
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/gun-violence-uc-davis-researches-causes-trends-solutions
