Gun policies, another perspective

Brent Regan, in his op-ed about gun violence argues that “proposed solutions” to gun violence are ineffective. At least that is what I think he is trying to do. The premise of his argument isn”t clear to me. The op-ed quotes a lot of statistics about gun ownership and gun violence in our country, and then goes on to talk about the “proposed solutions, and why they would be ineffective, but doesn’t offer facts or cogent arguments to back it up.

I don’t disagree with the statistics. What I don’t get is the basis for his arguments against the solutions.

He does offer his own solutions. He argues that the solution to the horrific school shootings is better school safety, but he isn’t specific as to what this means, nor does he give evidence. His solutions to other types of gun violence are to eliminate “gun free zones,” and to make it illegal to publish names of mass shooters. I agree with the last one, and making schools safer, but not that more guns make us safer.

Here are some relevant statistics:

In the rate of gun deaths compared with 64 other high income countries, the U.S. is eighth out of 64.

Each year, more than 39,000 people in the U.S. die as a result of gun violence. We are 28th highest in the world. Gunshot injuries and deaths tend to be more frequent in places where people have easy access to firearms. (Journal of the American Medical Association). Mr. Regan’s op-ed demonstrated nicely how many firearms we have.

Evidence for the solutions:

Safe Storage:

Households that lock firearms and ammunition decrease the risk of self-inflicted firearm injuries by 78%, and unintentional injuries among children and teens by 85%. Also, if half of all households with children locked all guns, 1/3 of youth suicides and unintentional deaths could be prevented. This is particularly relevant here in Idaho with our high rate of suicide by gun. Idaho has the 18th highest gun death rate in the U.S., and 87% of those are by suicide. Idaho has the fourth highest rate of gun suicide in the U.S.

In incidents of gunfire on school grounds, up to 80% of shooters under the age of 18 got the gun from their home or the homes of friends or relatives. (everytownresearch.org)

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Laws):

“Red Flag Laws” do provide due process standards set by the Supreme Court. They allow a judge to temporarily remove a person’s access to guns. Judges may enter an emergency short-term order only after family or law enforcement give evidence that the person poses an immediate risk to themselves or others, and a hearing is held. This can be challenged by the other person. The orders have a time limit. (everytownresearch.org)

Raising the age to purchase weapons to 21, or expanded background checks on gun purchases for those 18-21:

Eighteen to 20-year-olds commit gun homicides at triple the rate of people 21 years and older. (everytownresearch.org)

Universal Background Checks:

Mr. Regan’s op-ed doesn’t mention this, but background checks prevent people who shouldn’t have guns from getting guns, for example, domestic abusers, convicted stalkers, those convicted of a hate crime, violent offenders and others that pose a risk to public safety. Traditionally not all gun sales have included background checks.

Congress just passed, and President Biden signed, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. It addresses Extreme Risk Protection Orders, the dating partner loophole, licensing for dealers, mental health, evidence based school safety measures and expanded background checks for those under 21. These are all protections that make sense based on what we know.

Common sense gun laws work. Nobody wants to take away Second Amendment rights. Here in Idaho we have a long tradition of hunting, target shooting, etc. I am a gun owner myself, but I don’t agree that more guns make us safer. If this were true, we would be one of the safest countries in the world, when in fact we are one of the most dangerous. We don’t treat guns in this country as we treat other dangerous items. Even romaine lettuce has more regulations, when it gives us E. coli. The U.S. has an epidemic of gun violence. We owe it to the victims and survivors of victims to do something about this crisis in our country by enacting sensible gun policies. One life lost is too many. This crisis is totally preventable.

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Loree E. Peery is a Spirit Lake resident.