Don't Blame Gun Control

Bullying has become an epidemic. Yes, you could shrug and say, "bullying has always been around. Back in the good ole day—" and I would stop you right there. Yes, bullying has always been around. But times change and technology has evolved, as well as weaponry and our mindsets.

There have been eighteen mass school shootings in America alone since the beginning of the year as of February fourteenth. Everyone has been quick this year to blame gun control, video games, etc. But what I feel like we need to focus the most on is the shooter's mental state and their contact with the gun. Obviously, America doesn't have the best gun laws. But do not blame the guns. A gun isn't like, "aye you.. pull my trigger." No. That is not how this works.

On February 14, 2018, Nikolas Cruz, 19, walked into his school in Parkland, FL with an AR-15 ready for what most news outlets describe as 'vengeance' after Ubering to the campus. Let's analyze this situation together. This young adult, previously expelled from this school on multiple occasions, obviously had mental issues. He had recently received counseling on and off. He was being bullied at school, no one helping even though he kept asking and reporting. Most of the news outlets point out how some of his classmates were "scared" of him as well as his teachers before the incident. I, however, am not buying this fully. But I am choosing to acknowledge it. I feel like this tragedy could have been prevented in many ways. He needed help. He was a troublesome kid — no doubt. Now, I am in no way saying his actions are excusable. Because they are not at all. His actions are very inexcusable. But someone should have been there for him. Tried to help him. I doubt anyone tried other than his therapists that he walked out on. But I can't say for sure. That is not my right to say. But most school shootings have happened because of bullying. How odd is it that it's always an outcast, too? We need to raise our kids right and teach them to include everybody. That is how we start the ending of bullying.

Let's look more into his mental health. Both if his parents are deceased, mother passed just in November of 2017. He was in foster care, going house to house, which we all know can mess teens up depending on their mental health already. He posted deceased animals on his social accounts. That is an obvious sign of a psychological issue. I am not just speaking about deer. According to the New Times site, Nikolas Cruz was deeply disturbed. Not only would he post animal deaths but also weapons. Another warning sign. Don't blame his family. They had him keep it in a locked gun safe — however, he had a key. Did they know about the key? That information is unknown. But he did indeed purchase the gun legally, which is another issue!

I feel like everyone who wants to own a gun needs a psych evaluation by an actual psychologist. But that won't stop them from getting guns. If someone has the idea of murder, they are going to do what they can to get ahold of it anyway. Have we forgot about the dark web? Black markets? These are still a thing. So we can yell gun control all we want, but that's not what matters. What matters is the way we bring our children up in this world and how we handle issues on bullying and mental health. Mental health is a real issue, and we need to recognize that.

On an ending note, let's fix our world together. It starts with us.