How many more innocent children have to be killed before government and society do something about it?
I am not naive enough to think there is one, single, perfect solution to a deeply complicated problem. This most recent shooting involves truancy, a broken home and failure of law enforcement — all threads that must be followed.
But I do know one commonality that all these shootings have: firearms. Will more gun control stop all gun violence? Of course not. But does that mean we do nothing?
I understand we have a “right to bear arms,” but what happens when we’re not responsible enough as a society to use that right wisely? The other country I’m a citizen of has high levels of gun ownership. In my home canton there is even a public holiday for target shooting. Yet, there is no widespread gun violence nor mass shootings. Why don’t we seriously examine safeguards in other countries with high levels of gun ownership, such as Switzerland or Canada?
I also understand that every “right” entails harm, such as violent criminals who are exonerated due to law enforcement not handling evidence properly. But as a society are we willing to accept this high a level of “collateral damage”? Nineteen children and two teachers? How many others?
There’s so much that can be done: Deeper and universal background checks, increasing the legal age to buy a firearm and banning certain types of weapons.
What about instituting trigger warnings? For example, a person who turned 18 within the last three months. Or a person who is buying body armor along with his firearms. What about requiring a co-signer for someone between the ages of 18-21?
This one hits particularly close as my husband is an elementary school teacher. Every day he shares wonderful, uplifting stories about his students.
When I see the pictures of the lost children of Uvalde, I see his students, with bright smiles, unbridled enthusiasm and unique personalities. They bring so much joy to my day, hearing about them second hand.
I cannot even begin to fathom the pain of the families who have had their precious children brutally taken from them.
Uvalde must be a turning point, where society comes together to demand better — from government and from ourselves. Otherwise, we are doomed to more and more senseless bloodshed.
Shana Goldberg may be [email protected]
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