Photo by Tom Def on Unsplash

By: Jupiter Sousa
Sprayberry High School
Marietta,GA

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) firearms have become the number one cause of death in youth in the US.

CNN reported children’s deaths by guns have been steadily increasing each year, , passing car accidents in 2020, with at least 18 school shootings being reported in the US as of May this year. 

In the spring semester of freshman year, my school had its first school stabbing. In America, gun violence in schools is normalized as it happens so frequently. In most cases, school shootings are forgotten a month later until the next one cycles through. That next week, no resources were provided and nothing was discussed, I was terrified for my life. The intruder was discovered to be an enrolled student, and he successfully stabbed a student. The victim was severely injured, stabbed multiple times and immediately transported to the hospital to undergo surgery. 

Weapons are extremely easy to obtain at such a young age. In some states, it’s easier for a minor to attain a weapon than it is to attain a vape pen. For example, in  Georgia, “Any person under the age of 18 years who is on real property under the control of such person’s parent, legal guardian, or grandparent and who has the permission of such person’s parent or legal guardian to possess a handgun…” said WomensLaw.org.

Youths are the number one demographic targeted towards gun violence, all of them being too young to experience life to the fullest, their lives being cut short by a bullet. This is a result of the lack of background checks and instruction teens are given. In many states, there are few regulations for teens possessing guns at a young age. 

Gun violence does not only impact its victims, but also its survivors. Many who have experienced gun violence go through survivors guilt after a traumatic situation, which can lead to depression, PTSD, and suicidal idealizations. Not to mention physical harm effects of being injured causing “problems with memory, thinking, emotions, physical disability from injury to the brain, and paralysis from spinal cord injuries” CDC states. 

These major effects can mentally and physically consume a person, a situation they had no control in permanently changing their perspective in life.  Disproportionately affecting minorities 

Gun violence mainly targets minorities. Violence increases in Black, hispanic, LGBTQ+ and more communities. Gun violence occurs everyday however “none more so than Black communities. In fact, Black Americans die from gun violence at 2.7 times the rate of white Americans,” according to the Giffords Law Center. Every person, despite religion, gender, race, should feel safe existing, but the trend continues to prove that gun violence disproportionately  affects minorities. LGBTQ are among those minorities.  : “In 2023, the Human Rights Campaign reported that at least 32 transgender and gender-expansive people were killed by partners, acquaintances, or strangers — 78% of whom were shot.”

The Second Amendment gives Americans the right to “a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”However, this amendment never states that gun rights supersede human life. Imposing stricter gun laws does not erase gun rights. Countless lives have been taken because of the lack of regulations to get a gun. A massive decrease in deaths will occur with stricter laws being applied to gun access following higher age requirements, weapon licenses, and extensive background checks. This will massively impact society to have a decrease in homicide, school shootings, suicides, and accidental deaths if we implement stricter gun laws.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) firearms have become the number one cause of death in youth in the US.

CNN reported children’s deaths by guns have been steadily increasing each year, , passing car accidents in 2020, with at least 18 school shootings being reported in the US as of May this year. 

In the spring semester of freshman year, my school had its first school stabbing. In America, gun violence in schools is normalized as it happens so frequently. In most cases, school shootings are forgotten a month later until the next one cycles through. That next week, no resources were provided and nothing was discussed, I was terrified for my life. The intruder was discovered to be an enrolled student, and he successfully stabbed a student. The victim was severely injured, stabbed multiple times and immediately transported to the hospital to undergo surgery. 

Weapons are extremely easy to obtain at such a young age. In some states, it’s easier for a minor to attain a weapon than it is to attain a vape pen. For example, in  Georgia, “Any person under the age of 18 years who is on real property under the control of such person’s parent, legal guardian, or grandparent and who has the permission of such person’s parent or legal guardian to possess a handgun…” said WomensLaw.org.

Youths are the number one demographic targeted towards gun violence, all of them being too young to experience life to the fullest, their lives being cut short by a bullet. This is a result of the lack of background checks and instruction teens are given. In many states, there are few regulations for teens possessing guns at a young age. 

Gun violence does not only impact its victims, but also its survivors. Many who have experienced gun violence go through survivors guilt after a traumatic situation, which can lead to depression, PTSD, and suicidal idealizations. Not to mention physical harm effects of being injured causing “problems with memory, thinking, emotions, physical disability from injury to the brain, and paralysis from spinal cord injuries” CDC states. 

These major effects can mentally and physically consume a person, a situation they had no control in permanently changing their perspective in life.

Gun violence mainly targets minorities. Violence increases in Black, hispanic, LGBTQ+ and more communities. Gun violence occurs everyday however “none more so than Black communities. In fact, Black Americans die from gun violence at 2.7 times the rate of white Americans,” according to the Giffords Law Center. Every person, despite religion, gender, race, should feel safe existing, but the trend continues to prove that gun violence disproportionately  affects minorities. LGBTQ are among those minorities.  : “In 2023, the Human Rights Campaign reported that at least 32 transgender and gender-expansive people were killed by partners, acquaintances, or strangers — 78% of whom were shot.”

The Second Amendment gives Americans the right to “a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”However, this amendment never states that gun rights supersede human life. Imposing stricter gun laws does not erase gun rights. Countless lives have been taken because of the lack of regulations to get a gun. A massive decrease in deaths will occur with stricter laws being applied to gun access following higher age requirements, weapon licenses, and extensive background checks. This will massively impact society to have a decrease in homicide, school shootings, suicides, and accidental deaths if we implement stricter gun laws.

If you or someone you know has experienced suicide ideation or trauma by gun violence, dial 988. Reach out, you aren’t alone.If you or someone you know has experienced suicide ideation or trauma by gun violence, dial 988. Reach out, you aren’t alone.