Does gun control even matter to GOP members and the NRA?

There have been 246 mass shootings in the US so far this year, far more than the number of days passed in 2022

Mass shootings are gaining renewed momentum across the United States (US) in light of the Texas school shooting and Memorial Day gun violence in Chicago. The former incident is said to be the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook. These are just a few instances of gun violence that get plastered all over the news, and rightfully so.

According to Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 246 mass shootings in the US so far this year, far more than the number of days passed in 2022. More than 2,000 American teenagers between the ages 12 to 17 have been shot dead or injured this year. There have been 8,346 gun-related deaths, 15,768 injuries and 634 unintentional shootings. Moreover, 473 children between ages zero to 11 years were shot during the first half of this year. What also appears to be gripping parts of the US are imitation mass murders. Following the Memorial Day shootings, there have been 13 others this past weekend, leaving more than a dozen dead and at least 70 injured. Gun violence is an act of terrorism that is encouraging repressed individuals to come forward and commit crimes openly.

It is critical to consider the complexity of America’s gun violence epidemic. Although mass shooters target innocent civilians at large, people kill in self-defense; they also commit suicide using weapons. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2020, 54% of all gun-related deaths in the US were suicides (24,292). Therefore, gun violence should never be equated to mass shootings alone. The issue is more nuanced than we think.

Take for instance the Covid-19 pandemic. It caused 45,000 deaths (suicide or homicide) by guns. These deaths can be partly attributed to loss of jobs, psychological strain and exacerbated mental illness that Americans experienced in 2020.

That said, gun violence in America continues to take an emotional toll on families, while gun advocates observe in silence. Gun advocacy is a big part of the problem to push for safer, smarter gun control measures. A vocal proponent of guns is Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who signed seven laws, making it easier for people to access guns, including individuals over 21 who can carry a handgun without license and training. Easier access to guns caused gun violence to soar in Texas, which has one of the highest numbers of mass shootings in the US. Last year, Texas saw a 65% increase in mass shootings.

On top of gun advocates and GOP (republican party) members backing their second amendment rights, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has an equally important role to play in politicising gun control. It is no surprise that the NRA uses funds to push its agenda forward, which is to support guns left-right-centre. They use heaps of money to sway the debate surrounding gun control in their favour. Numerous Republicans⁠, Ted Cruz, Mitt Romney, Mitch McConnell, and a dozen others have benefited from the NRA in the past, including a law firm that has backed the association for years in exchange of $23 million.

In the wake of deadly mass shootings, it is unfathomable that the NRA would hold its annual meeting days after the Robb Elementary School massacre. This insensitive move demonstrates the NRA’s audacity to push for gun rights in a time when thousands of families grieve the loss of their loved ones. The association claims that it is “committed to making schools secure” but it is only in the guise of hypocrisy.

Although democrat states including New York and California are making concerted efforts to counter gun violence through bills and gun buyback programs, these efforts will never budge GOP members. Schools, colleges, theaters and bars will continue to be targets of mass shootings because second amendment rights hold more value than human life in Republican states.

So, where is the middle ground if there is no solution to gun control at all? The key is to keep gun laws intact but changing the eligibility criteria of who qualifies to own a gun. A person with a history of mental illness should never have access to guns. This begs the question: how do you know someone is mentally unfit to own a gun? That is where running thorough background checks comes into play. These background checks can help curb a potential mass shooter from committing mass murder.

In addition, the legal age to own a gun should be raised from 18 years to at least 21. Right now, individuals 18 and older can be sold long guns, which is alarming given that two 18 year-olds were responsible for the deadliest school shootings in America (Sandy Hook and the recent Robb Elementary School shootings). Countries such as Norway, Canada, New Zealand and Australia managed to curb gun violence through smart gun laws. The rate of mass shootings has sharply declined in these countries. Perhaps the US should extract valuable lessons and parallel similar gun reform strategies, if not exactly the same.

The media plays a very essential role to get the word about gun control out to the public. If media agencies including digital, print and broadcast, set aside their political differences and harmonise to address gun violence and gun control, things can steer in the right direction. Media coverage of mass shootings across the country can raise more alarm about gun violence in America, which can lead to protests, political pressure and ultimately, some form of resolution.