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America's youth are living and dying by guns, what must be done

2023-05-16 08:47:00, Blog CNA
America's youth are living and dying by guns, what must be done
Illustrative photo

Like so many young people in America, our lives are forever stained by the innocent victims of the gun violence epidemic. But instead of succumbing to the pain, and writing off gun violence as inevitable, we have turned our grief into strength, and strength into action.

The fight for gun safety is a decision that countless young people have made with us, and it is a decision that is more than necessary for America's youth. One of us didn't know that a self-disgusted teenager bought an AR-15-style rifle and went on a rampage at his school on Valentine's Day 2018, taking the life of his sister Carmen as well. Schentrup, and 16 others in Parkland.

Meanwhile, at age 10, the other didn't expect to move to a town that had recently been traumatized by another school massacre, and witness the painful consequences that event left in the community. And yet, our stories are by no means unique.

Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the US today, surpassing all other causes of death. And that's not surprising, given how few restrictions many states place on firearms ownership.

In many states, it's easier to own a firearm than to get a license and buy a car. This is a deadly choice that our leaders have made.

Being young ourselves, we understand how dangerous it is to arm the still developing youth with such deadly weapons.

From the massacres of Sandy Hook, Parkland, Uvalde and so many other communities across the country that few remember, young people have been on both sides of the story. In 2020, 26 percent of gun homicide victims were aged 18-24, despite making up only 9 percent of the population.

Suicide by firearm is particularly devastating. An American teenager died by suicide every 7 hours during 2019-2020. All too often, young people are injured and killed by putting the barrel of a gun to their head or temple, and they are the ones who pull the trigger.

This is an unacceptable situation. The Texas state legislature is currently debating raising the minimum age to purchase certain types of semi-automatic rifles to 21, an effort supported by the families of the Uvalde victims.

Though it faces almost certain failure in a legislature hostile to responsible gun ownership. In Florida, a reverse battle is taking place, as lawmakers are threatening to lower the age of purchasing firearms from 21 to 18, overturning the law passed after the Parkland massacre.

However, 23 states and Washington already allow the purchase of firearms once someone turns 18. Meanwhile, study after study is showing how effective raising the minimum age is in curbing gun violence, including significantly curbing youth gun suicides.

If we are truly concerned about saving the lives of our children, then we must fight to raise the minimum age. So we've turned to law to fight for just that. Now we are organizational managers at "Team ENOUGH" and legal consultants at the "March For Our Live" movement.

Kohët e fundit, bashkuam forcat, së bashku me “Junior Newtown Action Alliance”, për të formuar Koalicionin Rinor Gjyqësor për Parandalimin e Dhunës me Armë:një ekip me të rinj që i kanë mbijetuar ngjarjeve të tilla, aktivistë, avokatë të sprovuar, dhe deputetë që trajtojnë çështjet e Amendamentit të Dytë që ndikojnë tek të rinjtë.

Kur flitet për çështjet e të rinjve, nuk ka avokat më të mirë sesa vetë ata. Prandaj ne e mbrojmë Kushtetutën  dhe të drejtën e të rinjve për të mos u qëlluar me armë. Është një imperativ moral për udhëheqësit tanë në çdo nivel, që t’i mbrojnë të rinjtë nga dhuna me armë, dhe gjykatat në të gjithë vendin kanë rënë dakord për këtë.

Ne e dimë se ligji për sigurinë e armëve, si rritja e moshës minimale, është kushtetues dhe efektiv. E megjithatë, disa ligjvënës refuzojnë të ndërmarrin veprime. Por fakti është se sa më gjatë që ligjvënësit të rrinë në pritje nga frika e padive, dhe të marrin në heshtje para nga lobi i armëve, aq më shumë fëmijë do të struken nga frika e plumbave.

Kjo është një çështje jete ose vdekje. Njerëzit nuk duhet të mjaftohen vetëm me varrosjen e miqve, fëmijëve dhe njerëzve të dashur. Ata duhet të ndërmarrin veprime të menjëhershme kuptimplota për të ndaluar epideminë e dhunës së armëve të zjarrit. Për të arritur në atë pikë, do të na duhet një qasje gjithëpërfshirëse.

But raising the minimum age is a step in the right direction. It is painful for us to wonder if raising the minimum age would have saved our families and communities from gun violence. But we are steadfast in saving the next young person from dying looking down the barrel of a gun. Now is the time to raise the minimum gun ownership age in the US.

Note: Yvin Shin, legal associate in the "March For Our Lives" movement. Robert Schentrup, manager at "Team ENOUGH", and brother of one of the victims of the Parkland High School massacre, Carmen Schentrup./ Adapted from CNA.al





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