Mass shootings are America’s shame, and I’m sick of being ashamed
I love this country with all my heart. At our core, we are a nation that wants to build a fair and decent society. Most Americans believe in striving for greater racial justice, for better schools for our youths, for a cleaner environment, and for better opportunities for women and minorities. Our virtues draw immigrants and refugees to our shores from around the globe.
We have, however, failed miserably on gun violence.
Since 1999, at least 2,000 people have been killed or injured in mass shootings. Four mass shootings have occurred this year alone — in Indianapolis, Orange County, California, Boulder, Colorado and Atlanta. We have reached the sickening point where mass shootings are so common that just as soon as we grieve one, another occurs within a week.
We have become numb to the carnage. Mass casualty events dominate the news for a single cycle and then we will move on.
The shooting at Boulder will be indistinguishable from Indianapolis which, in turn, will be indistinguishable from El Paso. America will avoid thinking of our sad, social disease until the next one — and then be forgotten soon after.
Mass shootings represent the most prominent examples of America’s deep and intractable struggle with gun violence.
However, these headline-grabbing events are but merely the most obvious component of a broader sickness: the ready availability of deadly firearms. Their widespread availability introduces the possibility of death or serious injury into even the most trivial disagreement, legal infraction, or altercation.
What practical result might be brought about by stricter gun laws? Let’s look at two extremely similar North American cities: Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Both are roughly the same size, with a similar socioeconomic demographic, and are located less than 150 miles apart.
In 2020, Seattle had 50 gun deaths. Gun sales in the city hit new highs; once when the pandemic began and again in the summer when the protests for racial equity escalated.
In Vancouver, the number was 19 — up from only 10 the previous year. You can draw your own conclusions … but, military-grade assault weapons are banned in Canada and in order to own any firearm, you need a license and must complete the Canada Firearms Safety Course.
Compared to the U.S., mass shootings are exceedingly rare. Gun zealots such as Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, would have no support in the Canadian Parliament nor would they be cheered as heroes in their home districts.
Another major difference on gun control is deeply cultural. Far too many Americans view the Second Amendment with a borderline religious fervor that blinds them from implementing any commons sense gun laws that would regulate firearms with the same caution as cars and alcohol.
That fact, however, does not mean that we can’t change that culture, but it will be a daunting undertaking. The gun lobby is large, powerful, and incredibly well funded.
They have donated to many sitting politicians and push a ridiculous narrative that even the most rational gun legislation would inevitably lead down a slippery slope that would ultimately end in gun confiscation. No sane person should buy that argument.
America is not the only nation struggling with gun violence, but it is the only developed nation with such shocking numbers. The United States is a global embarrassment and, like many Americans, I’m damn tired of being embarrassed.
The majority of Americans support reasonable restrictions on gun ownership with 65% overall saying gun laws should be stricter. However, only 35% of Republicans support stricter gun laws. That is why for the last four years of Donald Trump’s presidency they constantly sided with the gun lobby and dog-whistled to the racial grievances of the base.
Under President Joe Biden’s administration, we finally have a chance to tackle this national embarrassment on a national level.
In early April, the president signed six executive orders ranging from solidifying “red flag” laws to exploring community-based violence interventions. However, these policies only address gun violence on the margins.
We need more substantial intervention. Potential gun purchasers should have to undergo a uniform, national background check, and military style assault weapons should be banned. Ditto, high-capacity magazines. The “gun show loophole” must be closed once and for all. Mandatory waiting periods should be imposed, and potential gun owners should be required to undergo mandatory gun safety training.
These steps would be a good start to help curb the heart-breaking problem of senseless gun deaths.
As a former defense official in the Reagan and Bush 41 administration, I have had the great privilege to have traveled the world. In my lifetime, I have visited over 100 countries and six of the seven continents.
However, I have lost track of the number of times that I have been in a foreign country and been asked about America’s strange fondness for guns and the appalling loss of life that is so often the byproduct. America has done much good around the world — from fighting disease, responding to disasters, and deposing evil regimes. Yet today, people around the globe feel sorry for us. I am sick of it.