When people think about firearms, they usually associate it with the recent mass shootings and countless homicides that have occurred across the U.S.. For example, the shootings in Sandy Brook, Las Vegas, Dallas, Orlando, California, Colorado Springs, Oregon, Tennessee, South Carolina, Washington, and etc. These are just 10 out of the 146 horrific mass shootings that have occurred between 1967 and 2017. Despite the U.S. having many gun policies and laws, compared to Japan’s approach with guns they are very behind. Once I was randomly scrolling through Facebook and my eyes spotted a video which stated, “How Easy it is to Buy an Ar-15”.
The rise of Mass shootings in the U.S. In the last 52 years there has been 150 mass shootings in the U.S. In the 50 years before that, their were just 25. In those 52 years 1,077 people were killed. In the year 2017 alone, 112 people were killed.
Mass killings are on the rise, more mass killings have occurred this year than ever seen before. People are living in fear and are looking for something to blame. The most common weapon used in these killings have been guns. With guns being the mainly used weapon it comes as no surprise that is what the American people and our government have been looking to regulate and in some cases ban guns, the term they use to describe their acts and notions is gun control. Gun control looks good on paper but in reality it will infringe on our second Amendment right, disarm the law abiding citizens, and will result in the increase of illegally purchased weapons and crimes committed with illegally obtained weapons.
Mass Shootings have been pretty common in the U.S. In the past 30 years or so. According to the Congressional Research Service, there have been 78 mass shootings in the United States since 1983. The shootings have resulted in 547 deaths and 1,023 casualties. Mass shootings are only responsible for a very small percentage of deaths in the United States, but mass shootings are happening more often than ever, a mass shooting happens on average one time a month.
Joseph Joubert once said that “The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.” If I were to create a Flash Seminar, I would aim the discussion towards understanding, which then can lead to progress in the world. Specifically, understanding about gun violence and steps that can be taken to reduce the amount of victims from it. The sheer prevalence of gun violence in this country is heartbreaking.
America owns forty eight percent of guns throughout the entire world, which is equivalent to 650 million guns worldwide! Throughout each and everyday, seven kids and teenagers die throughout the nation, which other bystanders are traumatized for life. Gun violence is taking many innocent lives around America. But, background checks can keeps guns out of the hands of many dangerous people. Gun violence is talking the lives of innocent people across the nation.
Many investigators have found examples of mass killers emulating their choices from media. Media has had a huge impact on today 's society, but the statements of media are having a connection with mass shooting that have been proven false. Mass shootings occur for various of reasons, but as many believe the main problem is "copycatting". The FBI and other threat assessments experts have found evidence that shows that plotters have looked at past attacks both for operational details or inspiration from the executioner. On the other hand, several mass shooters desire fame in comments and manifestos, making media have a huge connection with mass shooting.
Lone wolf terror attacks have become more dangerous than even leading terror organizations, like ISIS and and Al Qaeda. A Lone wolf terrorist encompasses any act of terror committed by one individual alone, however he/she may act in support of a larger group. LWT attacks are in America are perpetrated by right wing extremists, homegrown jihadist or mentally ill who are denied by society. On June 12th of last year, 29 year old US citizen Omar Mateen shot fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, striping the lives of 50 innocent souls. The gunman dialed 911 about an hour into the shooting, “...I pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State" (3 Hours).
Many schools are considering applying a controversial initiative which is arming teachers because of the fact that school shootings have been happening more often since Columbine. According to the Washington Post ,“...mass public shootings are on the rise, and schools are now viewed as vulnerable targets. One of the deadliest in history claimed 28 lives, including 20 children, after Adam Lanza opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in 2012” (Wang). This shooting was the first mass shooting to really make parents consider their children's safety in public schools and have left some wondering what actions can be taken to prevent these shooting Yanan Wang shows the worry in her recent Washington Post article saying, “These
The definition of threat is the intention to inflict, injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone in retribution for something done or not done. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has to be prepared for many threats whether it is from nature or human beings and these threats are constantly evolving. DHS was born out of a failure to protect this country from terrorism on 911 and once formed failed to protect the people from disasters like Hurricane Katrina, but it has learned from its mistake and has evolved. New threats from the same problems have emerged and only time will tell if the government can adjust. Some of these new threats to Homeland Security are self-radicalized Muslims, mass shootings, and deadly viruses like