Why Is It Important To Prevent Gun Violence?

Gun violence has increasingly become the most important ethical issue in the continental United States. Guns are being abused or over used, more often than not for the use of protection. It is understandable that the 2nd Amendment allows every American to have the “right to bear arms.” However, people are using it to their advantage. Within the past five years, there have been many gun related crimes. The number of victims recorded are mainly children. Children and adolescents are being affected more by this issue than adults. There seems to be a lack of information portrayed to them pertaining the safety measures that should be taken when insight of a shooting or appearance of a gun. This can be overcome by the simple solution of educating the children and adolescents in their own schools. This solution is better for the students because the school environment is a safe one and the best place to learn about issues like this, these environments also help discuss the negative effects of guns and this issue should be addressed because the last few incidents have occurred in schools. Accidents with firearms do not always
occur at schools. Children come from families who have a gun. Almost sixty percent of the gun violence occurs when children see a gun sitting on the table, they are tempted to pick it up and observe it. However, it is very unfortunate when the child pulls the trigger. Even though there have been laws which attempt to limit the crime and the use of guns, “America seems obsessed as no other nation by guns” (Insert citation). This makes it almost impossible to reduce gun crimes because they illegally possess the guns. The amount of guns have increased a significant number of deaths and injuries. After the incident of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, almost all of America was traumatized. Many people thought that this would be when there will be a change for gun laws. However, not much was done to reduce the usage of the guns other than the sympathizing for the event. Firearms play a very influential role in the lives of the small children. Some parents seem very careless when it comes to this issue. Most of the time it is because they own a gun themselves. Children growing up around guns are more prone to use the firearm, since their parents have them and use them. Safety is very important for children and it should be taught to them whenever possible. In circumstances where the parent or guardian is not able to express the importance of safety, it is the responsibility of the school to step in and take care of their students. There have been many controversy with bringing the gun talk to schools. However, it is very necessary for the time being. Schools are considered to be a safe environment for a child to learn about anything. Gun safety should be considered as no less than the monthly tornado or fire alarm trainings. A way schools can make the environment more welcoming is by expressing the care for each and every student. There are many reasons as to why a child may hold a gun. However, schools should attempt to understand what the child may be going through. Schools should emphasize the fact that having a gun itself is a criminal offense. For every student to feel safe, all teachers should also receive training. Teachers and faculty members should have knowledge of strategies they can use to help defuse any situation which may potentially turn into an unintentional threat to other school goers. Schools should also include nonviolence in their curriculum. A curriculum that can be used is the Straight Talk about Risks (STAR). STAR was created in 1992 in order to help students learn about all sorts of risks. This curriculum is designed to help and teach students lifesaving behaviors through interactive activities conducted in the classroom. (Insert citation). This is important to do because it makes learning about these important issues fun and it will make it more memorable in the child’s mind. “This program takes a broad topic of teaching children about anger management, conflict resolution, and self-esteem building” (Insert Citation). Using curriculum as such plays a great role in helping students understand the importance of the decisions that they are yet to make in their lives. Teachers should also take advantage of this curriculum and enforce it in any way they can. The more an idea is emphasized, the more the children will learn and understand its importance. This curriculum also provides a resource of other anti-gun violence programs and organizations. Schools are also a better place learn about gun safely because schools help define the negative aspects that are tied to guns. Most of the times, people believe that in order for a child to learn their lesson, they would let the child experiment with it, which makes them realize the consequence. Even though people believe it is safe, it has been the cause of unintentional deaths that occur at homes. Therefore, schools should take responsibility to explain to children what the “experience” will be like with a gun and teach them that it is wrong. It is important for teachers to explain it in that sense because it automatically raises awareness and self-control in children. A child cannot experience with a gun without making a large negative impact on both its life and the people around it. With the general knowledge of what guns do and how it affects people, children can learn how dangerous guns are in general. Due to the increase of gun violence, schools have adapted to teaching the Eddie Eagle Gun Safe Program. This program was created in 1988 by the National Rifle Association. The Eddie Eagle program is specifically geared towards elementary school children and teaches children how to react to the presence of a gun. The lesson the program provides to children is, “Stop, Don’t Touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.” “This program has received a lot of attention from the lawmakers throughout the country.” (Insert citation) Unlike the STAR program, the Eddie Eagle Gun Safe program is specifically for training children about the effects of a gun. Teaching a topic like gun safety at schools is very important at this date in time because there have been many massacres that have occurred in a school setting. There should be a curriculum in each school which emphasizes the importance of gun possession. Educating students under these circumstances helps them understand the severity of guns. Teaching students how to react to the presence of a firearm will enable them to be aware at any situation, whether at school or at home. Many parents may still argue that it is not safe for children to learn about guns.
Parents fear that children will take the negative aspects of guns as a positive reason to hold one. Many may believe children are attracted to guns due to video games filled with violence. However, schools enforce gun safety in a way that is beneficial for the child. Gun safety is very important in this country, especially for the lives of the young. Many of the future generation is affected by gun violence. Students have lost their fellow classmates due to gun violence. On the other hand, children who are too young to even touch one, have died unintentionally because it was at home. Therefore, educating elementary school children about gun safety is the best time to teach them because children have the capacity to grasp anything that they are taught or exposed
to. Overall, gun violence has become a plague that has hit everyone and it is refusing to leave. Majority of the people it is affecting is the vulnerable children. Guns have become too accessible for everyone, which increase the rate of harm than expected. There have been many unintentional deaths that occurs at homes and schools. Educating the gun laws is very essential in elementary schools because students should learn and gain awareness about guns and the amount of harm that occurs. Schools are a better place to learn about such thing because schools emphasize a safe environment, discuss the negative aspects of guns and also explain the significance of the past massacres that have occurred in the school setting.