Where Does the Priority in America Lie?: Recent Gun Violence Proves it Lies Elsewhere
Unfortunately, gun violence is something that has yet to go away, and most likely will never go away.
With years upon years of mass shootings, attacks, and unjust killings, we, America, have yet to put an end to any and all future tragedy. In these past few months, we have experienced new levels of anger, protest, and fear for our lives as violent acts involving the use of firearms continue to disturb and disrupt our every day.
Already, there have been over 200 shootings in the U.S. in 2022. On Tuesday, another school shooting, the 27th of this year took place in Uvalde, Texas, just days after another mass shooting in Buffalo, New York that killed 10 elderly African-Americans and injured two others, and another shooting in Laguna Woods, California that killed one and injured several others.
The shooting that took place in Uvalde on May 24th killed at least 19 young and innocent children, along with two teachers. According to The New York Times, this has been the deadliest school shooting in over a decade. The question is, why and how did we let this happen, and continue to let it happen again, and again?
SOURCE: The Crime Scene At Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
Image from The New York Times
We have all been aware of the recent abortion war and the lack of support from many of our nation’s leaders, government officials, and even medical experts. You might be asking yourself what do the recent abortion wars have to do with gun violence? Well, nothing really, except the fact that more people seem to be more pro-guns than pro-life, and that has many of us questioning where America’s priorities really lie.
United States representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez went to her Twitter account yesterday stating how she felt about the devastating events in Uvalde, Texas. She writes, “There is no such thing as being “pro-life” while supporting laws that let children be shot in their schools, elders in grocery stores, worshippers in their houses of faith, survivors by abusers, or anyone in a crowded place. It is an idolatry of violence. And it must end.”
Why are we fighting harder to punish women who want to have an abortion, but not those who think they have a right to bear arms and kill people with no remorse? A white man killed 10 African-Americans in a racially motivated attack and was only charged with one count of murder so far. Now, this may be biased, but if the shooter were an African-American, would the situation be the same?
SOURCE: A memorial for The victims of the Buffalo Shooting
Image from Pbs
Gun laws need to change immediately, and with recent events, the changes should be drastic and without a doubt, permanent.
Whether or not America will make the right decision or continue to let innocent lives fall due to gun violence will ultimately be the key to stopping all future mass shootings, and allowing anyone who thinks they can easily take lives ever see or pick up a gun.