Increase in gun crime leads to proposed weapon legislation
Senior Timesha Noble’s life was changed last year after she was hit by a stray bullet in a drive-by shooting.
“I can’t run anymore, and I have trouble going up and down stairs,” she said. “Before, those were normal things I did every day.”
Noble is one of the many Americans affected by gun violence every day. Gun violence prevention advocates are currently pushing for stricter gun laws following a recent flare of violence in the United States. Advocates on either side of the issue have been holding rallies, lobbying and campaigning for legislation favorable to their views.
Minnesotans are taking part in the debate in large numbers. Supporters of stricter gun laws flooded the Capitol prior to Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on strengthening background checks required for gun purchases on Feb. 18. According to Sen. Ron Latz, proposals to ban weapons will not be part of the hearings.
Currently in Minnesota, only people who buy guns at federally licensed gun stores need background checks. Those who purchase guns at shows, online or at any unlicensed venue are not required to complete background checks. One of the bills currently being debated in the Minnesota Legislature (HF 3324) would require a background check for anyone buying a gun, regardless of where it was purchased.
Gun violence prevention advocates speak out
After the death of his father in a gun homicide, senior Sami Rahamim started campaigning for the passage of gun violence prevention laws across the country.
He said although background checks are the main issue on the table, he and other gun violence prevention advocates will continue to push for stricter laws.
“I’ve been giving a lot of speeches, talking to legislators, lobbying and the whole nine yards of everything that needs to happen to get people on board with passing the laws we want passed,” he said.
Rahamim is one of many students affected by gun violence. Junior Stevevontae Champion was shot in both legs in a drive-by shooting last year, and said it prompted him to think more about gun violence.
“There should be gun laws everywhere because right now there’s way too much violence,” Champion said. “I think the background checks are a good first step, but they should keep pushing for stricter laws.”
Noble said her experience with gun violence helped her realize that it can affect anyone.
“I didn’t think too much about (gun violence) before I got shot,” Noble said. “You hear about it in the newspaper and television, but you never think it could be you. Nowadays, everyone needs to have a gun but it shouldn’t be like that.”
Pro-gun faction argues to reduce limitations
The push for background checks has been relatively supported in Minnesota. Approximately 75 percent of Minnesotans said they supported checks for all gun buyers, according to a KSTP-TV sponsored poll. Regardless of public support of gun restrictions, many Minnesotans object to an infringement on their Second Amendment right to bear arms.
Andrew Rothman, vice president of the Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance (GOCRA), said he believes all Americans deserve the right to gun ownership.
“The right to bear arms is part of the Constitution, and is coequal with the right to free speech, freedom of the press and freedom of religion,” Rothman said.
Junior Kyle Jerrett said he agrees with Rothman. Jerrett is a hunter and owns four guns, two of which are rifles.
“Most Americans love their guns,” he said. “A lot of people are getting trained in assault weapons nowadays, so I don’t think the guns are a problem, I think it’s the people that are a problem.”
Junior Anna Basill said she believes gun violence cannot be fixed by gun legislation.
“Even if the amount of gun ownership is reduced, people will still get hurt and killed,” she said. “If assault weapons are used appropriately they should absolutely be legal.”
According to Rothman, GOCRA has led the charge on civil rights related to gun ownership in Minnesota for 23 years. He said he believes that regardless of arms legislation, people who want to commit murder will find a way to do it.
“The biggest mass killing we’ve had in the last 10 years was 9/11 and that was box cutters on a plane,” Rothman said. “People who decide they want to kill other people will do just that.
Weapon regulation discussions continue in legislature
According to Rahamim, 2013 could be a “moment in history” for gun violence prevention acts. The Democratic Party is currently in control of both the legislature and the governor’s mansion, and President Barack Obama recently visited Minneapolis to speak out against gun violence.
Although Obama said he believes the state could make large strides in gun legislation, laws may be more difficult to pass because of Minnesota’s long-standing tradition of hunting.
Nearly half of all households have guns, and the state is home to 1,400 wildlife refuge areas, according to MinnPost, a nonprofit news organization. This means the fight for gun violence prevention might not be as simple as some hope. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton has stated while he’s prepared to listen to proposals, gun legislation will face constitutional challenges.
Rahamim said he thinks the controversial nature of the issue should not stop the legislature from moving forward with gun laws.
“It’s a huge epidemic in America, and kids of all races are dying at numbers unmatched around the world. It’s an extremely serious issue that needs to be addressed right now,” he said.
Rothman disagreed, and said the push against guns has been going on for far too long.
“The history of gun control has been more and more and more,” he said. “There hasn’t been a large decrease in gun control for a while,” he said. “The right to bear arms shouldn’t be taken away because some small percentage of people abuse that right.”
The current gun legislation hearings ended Feb. 22. The date of the next set of hearings is yet to be announced.
