The tragedies seeming to occur constantly at schools across the nation have a chilling effect on nearly all Americans. Most agree that something should be done, but is gun control the answer? Or at least that something is wrong in the first place; in this case, being the ever occurring amount of mass shootings—not just particular to schools—across the United States.
What one sometimes tends to overlook is the fact that we are slowly becoming accustomed to these shootings, as if they are part of daily life. I would be lying if I were to say that same effect has not had any application in my case. I am saddened when I first hear of moments like this on the news, yet as saddening as it may be, I hate to say I am not surprised.
That is the first problem we should tackle: the normalizing of these tragic incidents that open the door for more and more postponing of an actual discussion about actual solutions.
The fact of the matter is that a large portion of this “discussion” or “debate” is simply heated arguments, especially on social media, which do nothing but leave any amount of the participants in them feeling content with being “right” without actually having made any progress.
The normalizing of anything tragic only serves as the curtain that shuts out and blocks any attempts at a real solution.
What we should also avoid is the complete dismissal of any arguments opposing one’s view.
For example, we hear many times supporters of gun control easily dismissing those opposing their view in any way because they “don’t care” and “do nothing.”
Likewise, we also tend to hear those against gun control easily dismiss those opposing their view as them “not knowing the constitution” or looking for a solution that is not actually a solution. The constant back and forth and taunting bears no benefits but bears even more problems than the ones we already have in the first place.
I am not here going to elaborate a position on what should be done, because it would only serve as a reaffirmation to the views of some and a reaffirmation of the opposing view’s stupidity to others.
What should be made clear first is that tragedies like these, and all others, deserve the active pursuing of debate and in the end, hopefully, a solution.
The debating and analysis of the problems and solutions is the first step in bringing about slow yet reliable change.
To digress slightly, there is one thing I cannot avoid saying to my friends on the Left who support gun control: do not let the yearning for a quick solution lead to an even quicker and possibly flawed solution.
The topic of gun control is one that requires lots of discussion and deep analysis into the facts. If one is not prepared to do just that, one should not be prepared for the fervent support of it in the first place.
What is most important overall is to not just pursue solutions and a real discussion of their potential effects, but to also do so with an objective outlook. The moment one lets feelings easily override the mental process of making a decision is likely the moment one has already made the wrong one.
I will not forget to mention my friends on the right as well as those who are more so libertarian-oriented: look, there will always be supporters of gun control. Hate this as much as you want and think what you may of them, but you are only ever affirming their convictions when you taunt them with names and insult their ideas. Arguably, I could also say that because of this, you are doing the complete opposite of spreading your ideas on gun control, and further reassuring them of their views’ validity.
Overall, the topic of gun control is one that should be pursued with a clear and objective outlook, only ever pursuing debate and discussion that bears the fruits of solution and furthers the progress to prevent the normalization and happening of mass shooting tragedies. Any attempt otherwise only enlarges the problem and postpones any solutions.
Again, the debating and analysis of the problems and solutions is the first step in bringing about slow, yet reliable change.
* Yonathan Alvarado is a 17-year-old writer with no political affiliation living in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C. He loves reading about politics, religion and science. His idol, if he were to have any, is the late, great Christopher Hitchens.
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