There there were 369 mass shootings in 2019, which means there were more mass shootings than days of the year. The topic of gun control has been one of the most controversial topics discussed in politics. There are many different opinions on gun control, but today I want to focus on how easy it is to buy a gun.

In America, someone can buy a gun in less than an hour. In some states, all that is needed is an instant background check and meeting an age requirement.

In most states, one can buy a gun without any live-fire training. According to a 2019 USA Today article, there are currently only 14 states that require some form of a permit or license to purchase a gun.

Someone who is purchasing a gun should have proper knowledge and education on how to handle firearms. Guns are not toys; they are powerful and dangerous tools. I come from a military family, so I was raised knowing the power of a gun and the importance of gun safety and knowledge when handling one.

The second amendment ensures the people’s right to bear arms, but that is not what this is about. People should consider how easy it is for people with no firearm training to get their hands on a powerful machine.

If one were to think about the process it takes to get a driver’s license, it would demonstrate the importance of having proper knowledge on how to handle a firearm before being able to own one. A driver’s education course is needed to drive a car, so why shouldn’t it be the same with guns?

After learning the rules of the road and how a car operates, someone can take a test with a qualified individual from the DMV. It does not make sense that people require about a year’s worth of supervised driving to be able to operate a car on your own, but there is no training requirement to own a gun.

A car operated by someone who doesn’t know how to drive can cause a lot of damage. The same is true for a gun.