Scorch was in 1st grade when Sandy Hook happened in 2012- the same exact age as the majority of the babies killed that day in CT. Yesterday, 3 more babies were killed (4, if you count the killer who was only 16).
Since 2018, counting *only* instances that took place during school hours or at school sanctioned events when someone other than the shooter was injured, there have been 267 school shootings. In 2026 alone, 43 people have been injured or killed in a school shooting using those same parameters.
There are a lot of causes that lead to school shootings, obviously. Shootings can’t be solved with anyone one thing, but I’ll be damned if you can ever convince me that stricter gun control laws will make things worse. When you have to go through more hoops to adopt from an animal shelter than you do purchase a gun, you know we’re fucked.
So let’s break this down a little for the uninformed (which I count myself but I’m trying damn hard to educate myself).
- Federal laws are made by Congress and generally apply across the United States. They cover matters such as who is prohibited from possessing firearms, federal background-check requirements for licensed dealers, and certain types of weapons and firearm transactions.
- States can impose its own additional requirements, such as permits to purchase or carry guns, waiting periods, restrictions on certain firearms or magazines, and safe-storage rules.
- Federal law generally requires a background check when someone buys a firearm from a federally licensed dealer. But federal law does not require a background check for every private sale between individuals. State laws determine whether additional checks are required for those transactions.
- Only 13 states had adopted laws requiring a waiting period before at least some firearm purchases. There is no universal federal waiting period that applies to every firearm purchase.
- 22 states and the District of Columbia have enacted red flag laws (or Extreme Risk Protection Orders -ERPOs). These laws let the courts temporarily suspend someone’s access to or ability to purchase firearms if they are found to pose a significant risk to themselves or others.
- 6 states have laws on the book that OUTLAW red-flag laws. Beat the shit out of your wife and kids? You still get a gun!
- Only 26 states + DC have laws in place about the storage of guns when there are children in the home.
- Only Massachusetts and Oregon require all firearms to be locked or secured when not in immediate control, regardless of who resides in the home.
I’m the wife of a LOE and the daughter of one as well. I know that guns aren’t going anywhere in America. But I firmly, firmly believe that stronger federal regulations can at least make a dent in things. What are some easy wins?
- Universal background check of all gun sales, including between individuals, as well as sales through licensed dealers.
- Mandatory waiting period between purchase and taking ownership of your gun.
- Mandatory gun training that is required before taking ownership.
- Requalification on a regular basis. If you need the same to drive a car, why not to own a gun?
- Federal safe-storage requirements, such as securing firearms against unauthorized access by children and other prohibited individuals
- Federal criteria for red flag laws that follow you nation-wide. This includes strengthening prohibitions on firearm possession by people who meet defined domestic-violence disqualifications, and ensure firearms are actually surrendered when required.
- Reinstate a federal assault-weapons and high-capacity magazine ban.
Will that solve all the world’s gun problems? Absolutely not. Will it help limit gun ownership to those willing to put the time and effort in to qualify to be a responsible gun owner? Sure will.
If laws like those make our schools, grocery stores, movie theaters, parks, homes safer, what are the down sides? If you’re a responsible gun owner, why WOULDN’T you want these enacted?
I know why our government doesn’t want to- during the 2024 election cycle, the NRA spent about $11 million backing Republican candidates nation-wide. That’s down considerably from the over $50 million they spent in 2016. In 2016, the NRA spent $31.2 million supporting Trump, and $19.8 million fighting against Hillary Clinton. The organization publicly launched a $2 million television-ad buy in June 2016 warning voters against a Clinton presidency.
Think on that for a while before you vote this November.
In the meantime, I urge everyone to join Every Town– the largest gun violence prevention organization in America. Learn you can make an impact in your community and nationally. Change is hard, but no one should *ever* send their kid to school and never see them again.
Sources:
