In the aftermath of the horrific September 4 Apalachee High School shooting, Republican Vice-President nominee JD Vance called school shootings “A fact of life.” claiming gun restrictions would not decrease gun violence. The comment raises a torch to the broader problem of selective ignorance regarding the epidemic of gun violence in the U.S. and the political divide on the issue of gun control.

Since the 1999 Columbine High School Massacre, there have been calls from both sides of the aisle to increase gun control. Since then, the number of school shootings have only gone up. Per CNN, school shooting database as of September 19, 2024, there have been 50 recorded school shootings. Most recently, the Apalachee High School Shooting where four people were killed and nine were injured. What should have been a wake up to America, became a hot topic of whether or not firearm restriction is necessary in prevention.

For years, progress to prevent gun violence has been stagnant. After the Sandy Hook shooting President Obama pushed for a bipartisan bill that would regulate the purchase of certain models of assault weapons but was barred by a Senate vote. In his time in office, Trump increased access to guns, changing the definition of ‘fugitive from justice,’ virtually erasing records from the national background check system, stopping laws that would force child safety locks on guns, and stopping laws that would prevent those with mental illness from buying guns. However, under the Biden administration red-flag laws were put into place, which allows citizens to petition courts to seize firearms from individuals who pose a threat. Still many Americans argue against gun restriction.

Gun control is necessary. A mass shooting should be a rousing call to action, a call that something needs to be concerning the gun issue. Yet, so many people who value an object over human life choose to fight. Not fight for their children and loved ones, but a deadly weapon. As reported by the New York Times, Britain and historically conservative Australia in the wake of mass shootings enacted swift gun restrictions which their citizens stood in solidarity and backed. This begs to question the moral compass of many American citizens who oppose stricter gun laws.

Those who claim patriotism by way of waving an American flag and ignoring consequential issues deplete global vantage and perception of our country are in truth unpatriotic. Fighting for the right to a firearm over fighting for the lives of children in our schools is not only callous but heartless. It’s a complete disrespect to the 11,600 lives lost to firearms annually. Where is American pride when our children are being shot dead?

Policies that are constantly being barred by so called “patriots” would tighten background checks, provide access to mental health resources, and would hinder those who are unable of the privilege to carry a gun. The most significant piece of legislation was the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and with an Executive Order from President Biden accelerated the effects of the act. Yet, it is still not enough as shown in the multiple school shootings since. Buyback programs have been proposed to take assault weapons off the field and yet it remains a point of argument. Even with evidence that these implementations are effective there is no change.

To solve these pressing issues America must stand together and say ‘no’ to gun violence. Make a change to do something. Arguing that owning a gun is more important than the safety of our nation is pointless when if there is no restriction there will be no nation. Everything is a chain reaction. Once one person takes the lead to identify the roots and cut them off then more will follow suit.

This is not a political problem, nor is it a political concern. This is a human problem. A human concern. How many children have to die before we open our eyes and give up our guns? How American can we be when everyday we have another headline shouting that a school was shot up? Where is the freedom when a six year old is learning how to hide from a shooter? There are 386 mass shootings a year. Is this the America we want?