ֱ

Skip to content
A row of AR-15 style rifles is displayed for a photograph, one with a conversion device installed making it fully automatic, and one a fully automatic M-16 machine gun, at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), National Services Center, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Martinsburg, W.Va.  (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
A row of AR-15 style rifles is displayed for a photograph, one with a conversion device installed making it fully automatic, and one a fully automatic M-16 machine gun, at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), National Services Center, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Martinsburg, W.Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AuthorAuthorAuthor
PUBLISHED:

Every day we hear of another shooting or attempted shooting. Students, politicians, domestic partners and the general public are all targets. Suicides and accidents make the news. Do you see the common denominator?

Cecile M. Scoon is the co-president of the League of Women Voters of Florida.
Cecile M. Scoon is the co-president of the League of Women Voters of Florida.

In the aftermath of each of these events we often hear that America is not like this — but we are. And we are unique among developed countries in the number of gun violence deaths and injuries recorded. We are also unique in the number of guns in the hands of private citizens: over 400 million, which is more than the population of America.

What sets us apart is easy access to guns with very few safeguards for the public. Easy access is built into the fabric of life in the United States. But there are ways to address the scourge of gun violence that don’t involve fundamental changes to the laws we already have.

But, we first must face an uncomfortable truth — not all gun owners are responsible gun owners, and the law-abiding citizen is a law-abiding citizen until he is not. To protect our communities, we must alter the way we respond to the level of gun violence that has developed. Doing more of the same will not result in change.

Debbie Chandler is co-president of the League of Women Voters of Florida.

We could curb the sale of guns without any additional laws by simply curbing the sale of guns to persons who shouldn’t have access to them through the use of universal background checks. We could use the resources available to us through red-flag laws to remove guns from people who are a danger to themselves or others. We could invest in community violence intervention programs. We could make sure that there is access to important mental-health services to decrease the stress that might lead a person to harm himself or others.

We could embark on an all-of-government, coordinated messaging campaign to promote safe, secure storage of firearms. This will have an immediate impact in several crucial areas. Most guns used to commit crimes are stolen guns, most often stolen out of cars. Decrease a criminal’s easy access to a gun, and you will decrease violent crime.

Cathy Swerdlow is the LWVF gun violence prevention chair.
Cathy Swerdlow is the LWVFL gun violence prevention chair.

Millions of children live in homes where there are unsecured, loaded firearms within reach. This is the primary cause of unintentional shootings that most often kill or injure family members or friends. It is also a driving force behind the alarming rise in suicide among children. Unsecured guns in the home of family or friends account for 76% of guns used in school shootings.

We have a responsibility to make America a safe place for everyone. It is the most patriotic thing we can do. We need not choose between having the Second Amendment or having safety and security. We can and should have both.

Cecile Scoon and Debbie Chandler are co-presidents of the League of Women Voters of Florida. Cathy Swerdlow is the LWVFL gun violence prevention chair.

More in Commentary