One core element of freedom, by any definition, is the freedom to not be in perpetual fear for one’s safety and the safety of one’s loved ones.
The week-in-week-out—often day-in-day-out—episodes off mass gun violence we’ve seen in this country so far this year, capped off by two heartbreaking incidents of mass murder in Asian-American communities in California this week has been deeply heartbreaking. When I learned the news of the second mass shooting in California, which while memorial services were still taking place for the victims of the first, I felt physically nauseous.
A news report that stuck with me this week covering the episodes, matter-of-factly, and in passing, referred to mass gun violence as a “uniquely American problem.” This is indisputably true, especially with respect to fellow “economically developed countries.” (See the accompanying chart for more information).
If it’s a uniquely American problem, which means it’s not inherent to human nature, given that it does not take place on this scale anywhere else in the world, and it’s not a product of our geography—our topography, our climate, our weather—it means we are Doing. Something. Wrong. As a society. We have made poor choices, collectively, that need to be remedied. It doesn’t have to be like this. It doesn’t happen like this in other countries.
This is an area where the adage “where there is a will, there is a way” applies. If we can, collectively, generate the will that we want to end gun violence, there is a clear pathway forward. Essentially every other country in the world has demonstrated that path. It starts with fewer guns. Those other countries manage to make that work.
To the extent there are certain elements of “uniquely American” life that we are proud of, they do not need to be compromised by remedying this feature of our lives that is “uniquely American.” Changing this element of American culture and American law need not compromise every other feature of American life. It would simply save lives. Giving us the freedom we deserve.
