Increase In Gun Violence Leads to Tragedies

Increase+In+Gun+Violence+Leads+to+Tragedies

By Adisa Ozegovic, Staff Writer

Gunman Kevin Jason Neal, 44, opened fire in an elementary school in Northern California along with several other locations in the Rancho Tehama Reserve on Tuesday, Nov. 14, murdering four adults and wounding 10 other individuals, two of which were children.

This shooting comes merely a week after a much larger attack in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Sunday, Nov. 5 which has already been dubbed the fifth worst mass shooting in United States history. A gunman, identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, began shooting into a First Baptist church during service, killing 26 individuals and leaving 20 wounded. Among the dead were a pregnant woman and other young children, including Annabelle Pomeroy, the 14-year-old daughter of the church’s pastor, and a family that lost eight members.

A month before the Sutherland shooting, the Las Vegas shooting that left 58 individuals dead and more than 500 wounded was declared the deadliest mass shooting to occur in America.

Days following the Las Vegas shooting, discussions were held within classes at West on how the situation could have been avoided and what actions could prevent future tragedies from occurring.

“In one of my classes, we had a discussion about the shooting,” senior Lauren Buell said. “We talked about ways to prevent future problems like this from happening. Students were saying metal detectors at the entrances of hotels and places with many people going in and out would help.”

The biggest debate surrounding these events has been pertaining to gun control. Many individuals believe that the only form of action to reduce this would be creating more limitations on obtaining firearms.

Kelley, the Sutherland Springs shooter, had previous accounts of domestic violence and was court-martialed from the Air Force in 2012 with a “bad conduct discharge.” However, he was still able to pass the mandatory background check by indicating that he had no criminal history that would prevent him from receiving a weapon.

23 weapons, including multiple firearms, were found in the hotel room of Stephen Paddock, the perpetrator of the Las Vegas attack, after authorities breached it. In Paddock’s vehicle, there were several pounds of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used to make explosives. 19 more firearms, several thousand rounds of ammunition, and explosives were in Paddock’s home in Mesquite, Nevada. The firearms are, at the moment, believed to have been legally purchased while there are suspicions that there were alterations made to one rifle in an attempt for it to function as an automatic weapon.

Some students at West find these situations devastating, but continue to be frustrated with the lack of action from the legislation. The believe that the only proper form of action to reduce the chances of a similar attack would be through an increase in gun regulations.

“Obviously it’s horrific and tragic, but it’s also disappointing because the response from the public is, ‘Again?’ instead of, ‘How could this possibly happen?’ We’ve become too used to this. No one is doing anything, and it’s sickening,” senior Nasim Salehitezangi said, referencing to the Las Vegas massacre. “My opinion might be a little liberal, but I think we should be advocating for more gun control. When I say gun control, I mean making it more difficult for people to acquire weapons that can inflict mass harm. Assault rifles, machine guns, and any other weapon used during combat shouldn’t be available to the general public. It shouldn’t be easy to get a machine gun. You should have to go through several processes in order to make sure the person acquiring the weapon has been fully cleared to own it.”

Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy made a statement bringing to attention the hypocrisy of his colleagues who he believes have supported an industry over doing their uttermost to protect human lives.

“As my colleagues go to sleep tonight, they need to think about whether the political support of the gun industry is worth the blood that flows endlessly onto the floors of American churches, elementary schools, movie theaters, and city streets,” Murphy said. “Ask yourself — how can you claim that you respect human life while choosing fealty to weapons-makers over support for measures favored by the vast majority of your constituents.”

Other political leaders, who aren’t participating in the debate, have made certain to condemn the perpetrators and give their condolences to the victims.

“This act of evil occurred as the victims and their families were in their place of sacred worship,” President Donald Trump said in a statement he made. “We cannot put into words the pain and grief we all feel and we cannot begin to imagine the suffering of those who lost the ones they love.”

Despite giving his “thoughts and prayers” to the victims, Trump has made no plans to take any form of legislative action.