Shooting makes another example for gun control
A six-year-old student shot their teacher at a Virginia Elementary School, creating another example for why gun control and gun education at young ages is critical. On Jan. 6, Richneck Elementary teacher Abby Zwerner, 25, was intentionally shot by her student. Even at the start of a brand new year, school shootings remain a major part of the news cycle.
When considering the mind and morality of a six-year-old, one wouldn’t think of them as being capable of such violence, so it seems the blame may belong to their guardians. Children are impressionable; they do what they see, so it is up to their guardians to encourage proper behavior. The shooting was intentional, but the child was six. It isn’t logical to say that a young child had the intention of murder. How could that child have the ability to process how severe it is? Of course, that does not undermine the depravity of the situation as yet another person was gravely harmed due to such lax control and a lack of responsibility.
Guns are a controversial topic, but in the past few decades the defensiveness in “protecting” them has substantially increased. Some argue they are for protection, but is there a need for that protection if guns weren’t in the picture? Those who attempt to change anything can only get minimally effective gun restrictions passed. Almost anyone can own one if they’re of legal age. Due to this there are more guns in this country than people in the country. Just because someone is old enough to own a gun doesn’t mean they’re responsible enough for it. Maturity is not a trait everyone possesses, and with age does not come wisdom, so not everyone should be allowed the ownership of a gun simply because of age. And clearly, responsibility was not displayed in the slightest by the six-year-old’s mother who failed to keep the weapon away from her child.
Children are known to pick up stuff, play with it and walk away with it too. So the fact their mother left a firearm in reach of a young adolescent is utterly thoughtless. People who have children should have additional restrictions to go along with gun ownership. The threat they pose to children, as well as problems they have caused in the past show there should be limitations on gun ownership for parents to say the least. If parents have a gun, there should be check-ins and intensive interviewing for responsibility.
A kid who is just learning to read taking a gun to school raises serious red flags and again it identifies concerns referring to school safety, especially after the number of school shootings in the past. The fact that school security hasn’t been upped on a national scale is shocking and disappointing, and clearly should be addressed.
While one cannot say how each guardian should talk to their children about guns, it is a conversation that needs to be had. Unfortunately, guns are an important issue relevant to the well-being of students, ensuring that they are aware of the problems and dangers associated with guns. Educating children on the dangers of firearms from an early age is absolutely vital and could prepare them for any problems they will potentially have to face in relation to the topic.
Gun restriction is nothing new, but considering how little it has been addressed, it seems that we’re always back at square one. Students, teachers and staff members should not have to go to school fearing for their safety when obvious solutions are being overlooked. Educating children on the dangers of guns, restricting the threat of gun violence and creating stricter restrictions for gun ownership are ways to make an improvement, as well as locking the weapon up when it’s in a home with children.
