WHY A GUN BAN WOULD NEVER WORK IN THE U.S.

15 April 2019

In a time where mass shootings always seem to be in the media, discussions of whether the United States should impose a ban on firearms are common. Action must be taken to prevent future mass shootings, but a gun ban is not the answer.

The right to bear arms is written as the second Amendment of the constitution of the United States of America. In order to reverse this amendment, a constitutional convention must be held and end with three fourths of the 50 states ratifying the proposed amendment.

The odds of this happening are not likely as many deep south and rural states have populations which depend on gun ownership for their livelihood. Residents in far out areas rely on guns to protect their land from predators and keep food on their tables.

Unlike countries such as New Zealand, which changed its gun policies six days after the mass shooting in Christchurch, the U.S. has gun ownership rights written in its Bill of Rights. The United States’ federal government could not so easily change its policies.

In 2012, Venezuela banned private gun ownership. Now that the country has a corrupt dictator, Nicolás Maduro, this ban seems regrettable. Maduro and his military are now able to use force against citizens who have no way of fighting back. This also helps make it possible for Maduro to refuse supplies from the U.S.

Our founding fathers gave us the right to bear arms for this same reason. The fact that U.S. citizens can own firearms means democracy can thrive. This right maintains some balance of power between the government and its citizens.

Rather than putting forth an effort to a seemingly lost cause, Americans should focus on mental health. The stigma around mental health prevents many from receiving needed treatment.

Parents do not legally have the option to withhold medical care from their children but can leave mental health issues untreated. It’s time for the United States to emphasize the importance of a healthy mind so these issues may be properly treated. Mental health should hold the same importance as physical health.

According to tretmentadvocacycenter.org,“in general … it appears that at least one third of mass killings are carried out by individuals with untreated serious mental illness, even when narrowly defined.”

No mental illness should be left untreated so long that someone can dehumanize others in such a way that mass killing seems possible. The problem is not the gun itself but the state of the person behind that gun.