Gun Violence Ramps Up in America
Image From: USA Today
By: Caitlyn Garrity / April 10, 2021
This Mother’s Day Sunday, a gunman entered a birthday party and opened fire, killing six innocent people before killing himself. Gun violence in America is not new, but in the year 2021 alone, there have been at least more than one mass shooting per day.
The Sunday incident that happened in Colorado follows a list of other instances of gun violence. the FedEx shooting in Indiana, the Boulder grocery store shooting and more.
Last month, President Joe Biden proposed a list of actions in his overall plan to end gun violence. These actions included stopping “ghost guns,” where parts are sold and firearms can be made with no serial number, close loopholes and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
However, these actions have not been acted upon. The Senate is split 50-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker and a bill needs 60% approval to make it to President Biden’s desk. Seeing the stances of many Senate Republicans, a passable bill is not in the foreseeable future.
America has had a dark and extensive history of gun violence. With the mass shootings of Columbine and Mandalay Bay, the prevalence of this issue in America has not lessened. The issue lies in the hands of legislators to make it more difficult to gain ownership of firearms.
News outlets titled this year’s Mother’s Day as “deadly,” with over 10 mass shootings across America on Sunday. Incidents spread from California to New York City, all involving some instances of gun violence.
Tragedies affect more than just the victims and it’s time for the government to step in, and take real action to end the gun violence epidemic in America.
“This had to end,” said President Biden in a news conference referring to the acts of gun violence in the recent weeks.