Why Is It So Hard For America To Enact Gun Control?

Today, the U.S. Senate voted down gun control legislation that would have restricted "suspected terrorists" from buying guns, they voted down four separate proposals. Let's look at America's relationship with firearms.

The Orlando shooting that resulted in 49 dead and 53 injured is now considered the deadliest mass shooting in United States history. 

It wasn’t the first, and it already isn’t the last. (The Orlando massacre was the 176th shooting in the U.S. this year; as of this writing, the number of mass shootings sits at 190.)

Not only has America seen more shootings in 2016 than days, there’s also no sign that legislation will soon ensure laws will be made stricter in regards to purchasing guns in the U.S. - especially after today's display in the Senate.

It seems that the U.S. is caught in a loop of one side screaming about protecting people and the other side about protecting their right to bear arms. Is it possible for both sides to find a happy medium where dangerous people can’t walk into a shop and buy, as Hillary Clinton calls them, “weapons of war”? The evidence, to date, suggests not – but there is hope.

How Do Americans Buy Guns?

Andy Campbell with The Huffington Post went into a gun store in Orlando to see how quickly he could buy a gun. How long do you think it took? One week? One day? One hour? Nope: they bought an AR-15 rifle in 38 minutes during a state of emergency. This isn’t a typo; it didn’t take 38 hours or days – It took 38 minutes.

Yes, a background check is conducted, and buyers also have to fill out forms when purchasing from a gun shop, but the check only takes five minutes to complete.

However, do you know the way many get their guns without background checks? Gun shows. They take place often and pretty much all you need is the money. People can also purchase guns from friends and neighbours without much further enquiry.

What Might Gun Control Look Like?

Well, access would likely be reduced, especially to those on the “no fly” watch list, and more thorough checks would be made into those buying the gun, meaning prospective buyers would have to wait a little longer. (Let’s be real: it should take longer to get a gun than it does to get a tax file number, at least.) Assault weapons would also be taken off shelves for punters. President Obama calls these “common sense” measures, and regularly assures gun-lovers that he’s not after their pistols.

Still, he faces an uphill battle.

After the Port Arthur Massacre in 1996 – where 35 lost their lives - Australia gave up its guns. Yet, in 2016, President Obama had to make another speech as to why the U.S. needs gun control. There has been some positive action since then, with Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) holding a 15-hour filibuster on the Senate floor, opening the door for further negotiation on the issue. Finally, people are coming together and getting louder to end the steady stream of shootings.

Many anti-violence activists agree that guns should only be purchased by those who have had thorough checks by local police and the FBI. They should have a clean record, and the local police would know if they caused any trouble that might not have resulted in official charges.

There is no valid reason for someone to go into a place of acceptance, like Pulse nightclub, and shoot bullets at others just because one doesn’t accept their lifestyle.

We need to remember that the events in Orlando were the actions of a single person; a person who could so easily come to own their own gun. People need to come together and fight against terrorism like that seen at Pulse - starting with stricter gun laws.

Bianca Welsh-Jayne is one of Student Edge’s student contributors. Learn more about the contributors program.

Photo: iStock.