It used to be that the phase “only in America” was used in a positive and affirming way to set us apart from the rest of the world. What usually followed were statements encompassing the American dream – that anyone, with hard work and determination, can live a full and meaningful life and achieve their goals. Now you’d be wise to add the phase, “assuming you’re lucky enough not to get shot.”
Fact: In America, it’s 10 times more likely you’ll be killed by firearms than in any other developed country. (The American Journal of Medicine)
Fact: The shooting in Parkland marked the seventh intentional school shooting since the start of this year. There were an additional 11 instances when firearms were discharged on school property. (NY Times, Washington Examiner)
Fact: Of the 6,573 total shooting incidents in the US between 1 Jan 2018 and 14 Feb 2018, 1,827 people have died. 330 were officer involved incidents and 445 involved either home invasion or self-defense. That leaves 5,798 incidents with no obvious legal justification. These statistics are just for the past month and a half. (wwwgunviolencearchive.org.)
Fact: Since 1968, there have been 1,516,863 (that’s million) gun related deaths on US soil. Since the founding of the Republic, there have been 1,396,733 war deaths beginning with the Revolutionary War and ending 14 Feb 2018. More Americans have died by guns here at home than in all the wars and conflicts – combined. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Congressional Research Service with numbers updated by Politifact).
Fact: There’s now more than 90 firearms per 100 residents and that number is growing. The US has by far the highest number of privately owned guns in the world. Americans make up about 4.43% of the world’s population and own about 42% of all the world’s privately held firearms. (Pew Research Center)
Fact: Countries with strong gun control laws have fewer guns and fewer gun deaths per capita. Even suicides go down when there’s reduced access to guns. (The American Journal of Medicine). Guns do not make people safer. More guns mean more gun deaths.
Fact: Gun violence cannot be blamed on mental illness. Other countries have rates of mental illness comparable to ours. While up to 60% of mass shooters have psychological symptoms, factors such as alcohol and drug abuse, poverty, a history of violence and access to guns are much better predictors. (UNODC, Small Arms Survey via The Guardian).
Fact: A review of 130 studies in 10 countries found that new legal restrictions on owning and purchasing guns are followed by a drop in gun violence. (Epidemiological Reviews, 2016).
Fact: In Florida, more regulations are required to buy certain nasal decongestants than an AR-15. Yes, you actually have to register to purchase Sudafed and are limited to one package per purchase.
Fact: Want to get married? Hope it’s not a shotgun wedding since you’ll have to wait a mandatory 3 days before your marriage license takes effect. Or you can choose to partake in pre-marital counseling. But there’s no cooling off period for purchasing a gun or any training required prior to or after purchase.
Fact: If you want to buy more than a 25 lb. bag of fertilizer, you’ll have to register and be screened against a known terrorist watch list. But anyone on a terrorist no-fly list can legally purchase a gun.
Fact: The NRA is more powerful than any elected official. The money they contribute to politicians, and the promise to primary a Republican member of Congress who doesn’t go along with their agenda, helps assure allegiance. Politicians are bought and paid for. The NRA has contributed 3.3 million to Rubio and 21 million, either directly or indirectly, to Trump. Scott has ‘earned’ an A+ rating.
The Constitution grants the right to own guns but with all rights, come responsibilities. Kids in kindergarten understand that concept.
So now what? This time feels different thanks to the brave and articulate kids at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; they decided to proclaim to the world that they are more valuable than the right to own the product that mows them down. They refuse to accept that ‘it’s too soon to talk.’ They see ‘thoughts and prayers’ as worthless pabulum if action doesn’t accompany them.
Americans may have reached a tipping point with the NRA and the politicians it supports, who care more about not upsetting their benefactor than preserving the lives of their constituents. The 2nd Amendment should be well regulated – not abridged – by applying reasonable constraints on a product whose purpose is to kill. Thorough background checks on all gun sales, wherever they take place, should be mandatory and licenses required to purchase. Assault-like military guns should be banned. A voluntary buy-back system could be established for the millions already in existence. And laws need to be made at a national level so they apply equally everywhere. Finally, restore the draconian cuts Trump made in the 2018 budget for mental health and school safety and expand both.
“Only in America” is a phase that exemplifies our exceptionalism. We are a magnificent country unique in so many ways. But government must meet its first obligation – to protect lives. It will take a massive commitment to change a system that has morphed into an uncontrolled monster. It’s past time we take back the future and make it safe for us and generations to come. The place to start is with our elected representatives … and the ballot box.
Villager Marsha Shearer is a frequent contributor to Villages-News.com
