The opinions expressed in this Letter to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the views of the executive board or the Exponent.

It is something deeply frustrating to learn about another school shooting and see no action being taken on it. The United States is the only country where this is constantly a problem. This is because the United States has one of the highest rates of gun ownership per capita, with 120.5 firearms per 100 people, according to US News, which is astronomical compared to other countries. This is why there is such a high rate of not only school shootings but also gun-related deaths, whether those be accidents, self-harm or violent confrontations.

A gun can be readily available for anyone willing to wait for a background check at a gun store if they don’t buy it from a private collector, which is a big part of the issue. There are ways to fix this, and it is up to the public to demand change from the government by voting and staying on top of the problem. It is very difficult, especially with how the media is designed to move on to the next big tragedy or trend, but we have to. We need to understand that this is not normal, and no one should be scared to go to school.

There is a way to have guns and not have people die. We, as the public, need to demand that AR-15-style weapons stay out of the streets and the hands of everyday people, because citizens do not need weapons of war to protect themselves. We need to demand there be more mental health resources, so people don’t take their lives or others’ lives with guns. We need to remember that our votes matter, and that more than enough people have died at the hands of guns for us not to act.

The Columbine victims would be married and having kids by now. The Aurora victims would be in the theatres enjoying the new Deadpool and Wolverine movie. The Sandy Hook victims would be graduating this year. The Parkland victims would be in college and excited about their future. Countless others should be alive and not dead because of suicide or domestic abuse. We need to remember this coming November, for sure, but also every day. We need to push for a country and world where parents don’t have to bury their kids because they went to school or decided to go to a late-night movie or turn someone down.