Gun Control - Yet Again

Yet another in a long string of mass murders in the United States. Now we have 17 high school students in Florida being shot by a 19 year old former student. A number of people reported this student as a potential danger – some 20 times according to the latest figures I’ve seen. Yet this person walked into a store and bought an AR15 with more than one high capacity magazine, and obviously the associated ammunition.

A person who was banned from carrying a backpack onto school grounds, walked in, pulled a fire alarm to get students out of their classrooms, and began killing people. The sad thing is that this is hardly unusual. Just last year, someone opened fire on concert goers in Nevada, killing 58 and injuring over 800 people. A few months before that, a man opened fire in an Orlando nightclub, killing 50, and injuring another 58 people. Just about a month before the Florida shooting, a person opened fire at another school shooting 16 people, though mercifully only 2 were killed.

We know that it is not in any way feasible to ban private gun ownership in the United States. Some 42% of Americans report having a gun in their home and voters do not want a ban on guns or on handguns. On the other hand, upwards of 90% of people want background checks on all gun sales. Perhaps surprisingly, some 75% would favor a 30 waiting period on gun purchases.  Only about half of voters would approve of a ban on assault weapons.

What we find when we study it, is that assault weapons are used in about 28% of mass shootings, but when they are used, the number of casualties is more than 50% higher. An assault weapon with multiple high capacity magazines can effective allow the shooter to kill far more people than they otherwise would, all other factors being equal.

One person indicated that the number of mass shootings has skyrocketed over the last 30 years, blaming that on a breakdown in morals and parenting. It is no coincidence that only in the last 30 years have assault weapons been available to the general public. I would argue that the easy availability of those weapons is what has fueled the rise in mass murders.

All many politicians seem to do is offer ‘thoughts and prayers’ to the families of the victims. Thoughts and prayers have thus far failed to solve the problem. What could solve the problem while still allowing Americans reasonable access to guns?

• ·         Universal background checks on all gun purchases;
• ·         A one week waiting period on all gun purchases;
• ·         Limiting access to guns to people with mental problems;
• ·         Better reporting of individuals with mental problems related to gun sales;
• ·         A ban on assault weapons;
• ·         A ban on high capacity magazines;

This will not end mass murders by any stretch of the imagination, but it should do two things: first reduce the number of mass murders; and second reduce the death toll from mass murders. Law abiding citizens could still buy most types of rifles, handguns, and shotguns. This allows people to protect themselves and their property. But it should cut the horrible death toll that we have seen in recent years.