People die because guns are so easy to purchase

Guns should not be available for sale anywhere in the world because over 30,000 people in the U.S. die each year from them.

Studies show that guns are the most used weapon in the world. Even though there are over 50,000 firearm dealers in the United States and 1,000 in Colorado, there are no laws against owning a gun. In fact, the Second Amendment gives Americans the right to own a gun, which is both wrong and dangerous. In 2022 alone, there were over 647 mass shootings in the United States. These numbers are unacceptable and exist because anyone can buy a gun in firearm stores. I believe this high number is the consequence of people having easy access to guns. Easy access to guns results in more mass shootings and more loss of life. Many people argue that they want a gun to protect themselves but in my opinion that’s unreasonable because there are other precautions that you could use to protect yourself such as learning self-defense and carrying pepper spray.

Gun control laws vary around the country, with different age requirements tied to certain types of guns. Under the Gun Control Act, shotguns and rifles may be sold to individuals 18 years of age or older and all firearms other than shotguns and rifles may be sold to individuals 21 years of age or older. Given this lax law, you can see how although there are some restrictions on buying a gun, like background checks, it is still very easy to buy a gun.

Some solutions to this problem are closing down the gun stores in Colorado or removing the Second Amendment. Given the Second Amendment was written in 1791, I think we are about due for a revision anyway.

These are just some solutions to this troubling problem. I know my classmates and I don’t want any more shootings in Colorado like the 2021 King’s Soopers shooting near our school.

People should not be killed every year because guns are so easily available for purchase. Our lives are worth it.

— Sean Orr, fifth grade,

Boulder