On May 27, 2023, at 9:54 AM, Audrey “Aiden” Hale, a 28-year-old artist, entered Covenant School, a private Presbyterian school for elementary students in Nashville. After entering, he proceeded to shoot 9 year olds Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, and Hallie Scruggs.. He also killed Mike Hill, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Cynthia Peak, 61, before being killed by police. According to an article on ABC news titled, “ Nashville school shooting: What to know about the 6 victims” there are 209 preK-6 students attending Covenant School, and 40 to 50 staff members. According to ABC news , there have been more mass shootings in 2023 than days so far. It’s no surprise to anyone that gun violence must stop.
According to police, Hale had a detailed map of the school, as well as conducted surveillance of the school in days prior. He entered the school with two “assault” weapons and a pistol. “Nashville school shooting suspect owned seven legal guns, police say….the suspect had legally purchased seven guns from five different local stores and hid some of those weapons at home” Morgan Winsor who wrote the article also stated, “Hale was under a ‘doctor’s care for an emotional disorder’.” Hale’s parents were under the impression that he sold the one and only weapon they believed Hale owned.
This hits fairly close to home for Lowellville residents, students, and staff at Lowellville’s K-12 School District. Just under a year ago, in the school’s cafeteria, a student brought a gun to school. This led to mourning and sorrow hitting the village like a shockwave. Similar things are happening in the bustling city of Nashville as they mourn the loss of six people who had much more life to give.
Over the years, liberals and democrats have been calling for more gun control and less production and selling of guns. An issue to completely ban guns is violating the Second Amendment, which clearly states that all American citizens have a right to bear arms. This topic is a heavily debated one in politics, especially during a presidential campaign. Both Democrats and Republicans agree that people with mental illnesses should be prevented from purchasing guns. It is also widely agreed that sales at gun shows are subject to background checks. It starts to get more polarized with the banning of certain guns, as well as banning high capacity ammunition magazines. However, if almost every law maker agrees on this, why did someone like Audrey Hale, who had high-functioning autism and depression, have access to guns?
On the other end of the spectrum, banning guns for anyone with a criminal record is almost impossible. Many people who come out of prison come out with a different mindset. One size should not fit all in this situation. Depending on the severity of the conviction, as well as a “check for mental stability,” could determine if a convict would be able to legally obtain a weapon. Needless to say, America has a long way to go, but needs to be careful as not to step on the toes of many.
In my opinion, America needs to put more effort into stopping people like Audrey Hale and Salvador Ramos (Uvaldale) from having access to guns. Better background checks need to be enforced, but there is also a need to respect the boundaries of the Second Amendment. Ghost guns are impossible to trace and guns that have serial numbers scratched off are equally as difficult to find. Politicians like President Biden plan to use gun control to slow the manufacturing of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. However, as previously stated, lawmakers do not want to interfere with the Second Amendment.
A child’s perspective is going to be drastically different from a politician’s. Older politicians such as Donald Trump and Joe Biden didn’t live in fear of going to school. Today, students go to school through metal detectors. Today, students have safety drills in case of an intruder. Today, more students have been in a real lockdown, not a drill, than students last year, not to mention, decades ago. School shootings didn’t happen 60 years ago or even 40 years ago. Today, there are more school shootings in the news than ever before. It makes me and others alike wonder if America will try and fight the battle that needs won, or continue to hide behind the mask of politics?
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