14
The Time is Now Article by Krisha Patel This story contains editorial content regarding gun control regulations in light of current events.
Many parents would drop their kids off at Robb Elementary School like any other day on Tuesday, May 24, in the small town of Uvalde, Texas. However, for some parents, it would be the last time they saw their child alive. The shooting at Robb Elementary School is amongst the 250 mass shootings the U.S. has experienced halfway through 2022, and is the second most deadly school shooting in the U.S. ever. The shooting at the school claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers. There was only one way this all could’ve been prevented: restricting guns. Under the Gun Control Act in the U.S., individuals as young as 18 can purchase firearms, rifles and ammunition as many times as they want. By the time they turn 21, they have even more access to various types of guns. Vendors in all but six states and Washington, D.C. do not perform any background
checks and require permits to buy guns. Some states require permits for only handguns. This means legally, anyone, even those who are unsuitable to handle a weapon, over the age of 18 can own a gun under the Second Amendment. However, age definitely plays a huge factor in gun violence. By 18, the prefrontal cortex of the brain isn’t done maturing. It fully matures by 25. That’s where most of the rational judgment and core thinking is done. Research shows the key difference between a fully developed adult brain and a developing teenager’s brain is emotions. A teenage brain is more wired to act based on compulsions and emotions rather than adequate thought and judgment. A person is best fit to own a gun when they are able to think rationally about the potential consequences of their actions. They know how to use a gun safely and in which scenarios would it be appropriate to use one. Additionally, they take responsibility for the gun and keep it in a safe space.
Photos courtesy of Isabel Bonebrake
