The second amendment of the constitution 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”. This is the second thing listed in the Bill of Rights, one of the foundations of our country. Ratified in 1791, the right to bear arms has been a symbol of freedom and personal liberty to many gun owning Americans. Since this amendment was first implemented the technology and availability of firearms has changed a lot. Making the issue one of America’s most debated subjects to date. However gun violence is not just a result of gun control, but of the way we discuss gun violence and domestic terrorism.
One of the factors of gun controls re-occurrence in politics is the way guns have evolved. The muskets available at the time of bill’s ratification could fire one shot every 15-20 seconds, averaging around 3 to 4 shots per minute. They weren’t nearly as powerful or accurate as today’s guns on the market. It is also a lot easier to buy a gun. Just in the City of Dallas there are over 20 gun retailers. One of the most popular rifles on the market is the AR-15. Being a semi-automatic rifle, the number of rounds fired off is determined by the amount of times you pull the trigger, the size of your clip, and your reload time. This rifle gets a lot of heat in the gun debate even though it is only accountable for about 24% of mass shootings. It is important to look at this gun not through the lens of violent crime, but as an example of how a gun’s efficiency compared to the muskets of the time.
Another reason this gun is important to the topic is its use for self defense. The AR-15 is one of the most popular guns used for protection. Being able to defend one’s life or property is one of most celebrated pro’s of gun ownership. However, having a gun of this magnitude for self defence can be seen as putting more powerful weapons onto the streets that can be used in malicious ways.
Beyond the access and power of firearms the way we treat gun violence and domestic terrorism in the media is much more threatening. Today we live in a world where we can know every detail in a matter of moments after a major event occurs. Then this tragedy is discussed on printed media, television, and the internet for weeks to months after the event took place. We take these stories and create a celebrity out of the shooter. For weeks to months afterwards the media holds on to viewers, by discussing every specific detail trying to label the shooter’s motive. Making them a public spectacle, and making them into infamous figures. This fame can be appealing to extreme individuals who are trying to spread a message. By glorifying this violence and tragedy we are not any closer to stopping these tragedies from occurring.
The media makes these tragedies into a debate over gun control. We can’t stop gun violence by changing or abolishing the second amendment, we must start by detaching the shooter from the tragedy. We must be respectful of the victims by not pursuing their stories. Don’t make the shooter into a spectacle. The discussion of gun control are always fueled by these tragedies. Gun control is instantly villainized as both the cause and the solution to the problem. These issues are far more complex than just the possession of guns by Americans.
Gun control is not going to change soon, but gun violence can be slowed down. These tragedies have been proven to cause an increase in gun purchases. We currently have the right to own guns and people who intend to do harm other already own guns as well. The defense of ‘leveling the playing field’ is often an argument made by pro-gun advocates. It is not possible to take guns away. It is possible to work on how we communicate tragedy, discuss gun violence, and glorify the perpetrator behind the shooting. Debating gun control, won’t stop domestic terrorism. When we discuss a shooter they get what they want. They scare millions, we must stop making the problem worse ourselves. The media’s relationship with tragedy must change.
21st Century Citizenship 
