Aaryn Kornbau Staff Writer

It is a common belief that enforcing Gun laws each state that it would create a safer society. The law would help to enforce selling only fully automatic and semi automatic weapons to military personal with permits only. The permit states that such guns are only allowed in use of military sanctioned activities. The ultimate intent is to take rapid-fire assault weapons, like AR-15s (the assault rifle used in the Sandy Hook shooting) and clips that take ten rounds or more, out of the hands of the common citizen.

This is the current stand still with gun laws; the government can ban the more lethal guns in some states, but they aren’t banning guns all together. We will always hear about civilian shootings as long as guns are a part of our society. “No matter what laws or limitations you put on guns, if somebody wants to get a one they’ll find a way to get their hands on a gun.” said, Ryan Mappes [pierce student who is enlisting in the army].

There is no direct correlation between bans on weapons and a decrease in crime rates. The reason why people are so quick to jump on the bandwagon to ban assault weapons is due to the many shootings that involved the lives of innocent victims. It isn’t that the shootings happened because it was so easy to obtain an illegal gun, but rather a mentally unstable person was not treated.

“If assault rifles with high capacity are banned it will mitigate the number of casualties in the case of a shooting, but I think mental health awareness is equally important,” said Chris Mackersie [Director of Campus safety]. If we are going to look at the core of the problem in every shooting it is because a mentally or emotionally unstable person has lost consciousness of right and wrong.

The government should do background checks on people looking to obtain an illegal weapon by going through a licensed firearm dealer first and thoroughly check for mental illness, as well as do a better job at providing the healthcare assistance to those who are unstable.