On June 24th, after 174 days, 282 mass shootings, and 9,820 gun violence victims into 2022, the Supreme Court expanded gun rights by stating Americans have a right to carry “commonly used” firearms in public for personal defense. This ruling struck down New York’s law restricting gun-carrying rights, which required residents to prove they had good reason to carry concealed firearms in public.
Only 5 weeks before the six conservative Supreme Court justices upheld a broad interpretation of the Second Amendment for the people to “keep and bear arms.,” dozens died in shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo. The three liberal justices – Kagan, Sotomayor, and Breyer – dissented against the majority.
On the other hand, just one day after the Supreme Court decision, the Senate moved forward with new legislation to tighten access to firearms, passing the bill with a vote of 65-33. This law will expand background checks for buyers under 21, offer funding to encourage states to implement “red flag” laws, and provide federal funding for mental health programs. The bill must now clear the House of Representatives and will then go to President Biden.
At present, New York City Mayor Eric Adams plans to tighten the application process to buy firearms and implement bans in certain locations. In the first quarter of 2022, Shooting incidents in New York City have increased 14% since the beginning of 2021, following United States’ upward trends of gun violence.
Hyper-polarization amid deepening cases of gun violence appears to challenge any sort of progress in the US government. Growing social pressure directly conflicts with the NRA – and many politicians’ agendas. Political divisions over addressing gun violence give more time for shooters to claim more victims and unfit gun owners to purchase more firearms. The average mass shootings per day is currently at about one and a half; how much higher does this number need to be for American politicians to start valuing human life over their NRA money?
Links:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61915237
https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/what-some-dayton-women-have-say-about-judge-ruling-against-male-only-draft/FL7jyOdvPDRK0bl1W9GBqO/
Only 5 weeks before the six conservative Supreme Court justices upheld a broad interpretation of the Second Amendment for the people to “keep and bear arms.,” dozens died in shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo. The three liberal justices – Kagan, Sotomayor, and Breyer – dissented against the majority.
On the other hand, just one day after the Supreme Court decision, the Senate moved forward with new legislation to tighten access to firearms, passing the bill with a vote of 65-33. This law will expand background checks for buyers under 21, offer funding to encourage states to implement “red flag” laws, and provide federal funding for mental health programs. The bill must now clear the House of Representatives and will then go to President Biden.
At present, New York City Mayor Eric Adams plans to tighten the application process to buy firearms and implement bans in certain locations. In the first quarter of 2022, Shooting incidents in New York City have increased 14% since the beginning of 2021, following United States’ upward trends of gun violence.
Hyper-polarization amid deepening cases of gun violence appears to challenge any sort of progress in the US government. Growing social pressure directly conflicts with the NRA – and many politicians’ agendas. Political divisions over addressing gun violence give more time for shooters to claim more victims and unfit gun owners to purchase more firearms. The average mass shootings per day is currently at about one and a half; how much higher does this number need to be for American politicians to start valuing human life over their NRA money?
Links:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61915237
https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/what-some-dayton-women-have-say-about-judge-ruling-against-male-only-draft/FL7jyOdvPDRK0bl1W9GBqO/
