Gun Control

Gun Control

Gun violence exacts an enormous toll on America, claiming tens of thousands of lives each year and traumatizing survivors. Every day in America, guns kill more than 100 people. Among America’s youth, gun violence has become the leading cause of death. 

The Second Amendment states:

  • A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

(Emphasis added). The framers’ intent in adopting this language has been strongly contested. Certainly, however, the framers could not have contemplated a ubiquity of assault-style weapons capable of killing dozens of people in a matter of seconds.

The overwhelming majority of Americans support common sense gun reforms. A September 2019 CNN poll found that increasing funding for mental health screenings and treatment, universal background checks, red flag laws, and requiring gun licenses all get broad bipartisan support as well as the support of a majority of gun owners. 

Studies show that better gun laws and better enforcement of existing gun laws can save lives. A non-partisan analysis by the Rand Corporation, which spent two years and more than $1 million on the project, concluded in 2019 that an assault weapons ban could prevent 170 mass shooting deaths a year in the US, a universal background check law could prevent 1,100 gun homicides each year, and raising the age limit for buying firearms could prevent 1,600 homicides and suicides.

To be sure, guns used for self-defense also save lives. The laws we support would not prevent law abiding Americans from owning and carrying firearms for self-defense.

We believe the following reforms should be adopted immediately: