Giving Up the Gun
I am seventeen years old and unable to vote in elections. During tumultuous times like these, the inability to vote is incredibly frustrating. In the meantime, before I am voting age, there is something I CAN do - spread awareness and encourage support of issues that are important to me. In this unit of Policy, we discussed both the Spanish-American War and WWI, history of proposed bills and legislations, and, most importantly, how a bill becomes a law. I was given the assignment to choose a pending proposed legislation that is important to me, research the Senators sponsoring the legislation, and write a formal letter encouraging my state representatives to support and vote for the proposal to become law. The proposed legislation I am supporting is the Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020 by Senator Henry Johnson Jr., co-sponsored with Senator Elizabeth Warren. This is a federal policy that would not only change the sale, transfer, and possession of firearms and ammunition, it would require extensive background checks, create a statutory process for household members to petition for extreme risk protection orders to remove firearms from an individual posing a risk of committing violence, and raise the minimum age to purchase firearms and ammunition to age 21. My state representatives are Senators Tammy Duckworth and Richard Durbin from Illinois. I hope they consider voting for this comprehensive gun control bill, for the good of Illinois and the nation. I hope you enjoy!
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SN
HS Student
ㅡ
GCE Lab School
1535 N Dayton Street
Chicago, IL 60642
snicklin@gcelabschool.org
The Honorable Richard Durbin
State of Illinois - Senator (D)
525 S. 8th Street
Springfield, IL 62703
Dear Senators Duckworth and Durbin,
I would like to begin this letter by expressing my appreciation for your many years of impactful public service to our great state and nation. In addition, I deeply appreciate taking time out of your busy schedules to read this letter. I am a Junior at GCE Lab School - a small, private, progressive high school in Chicago - and I am writing in support of Senator Henry Johnson Jr’s proposed legislation - H.R. 5717: Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020 - co-sponsored with Senator Elizabeth Warren.
It is proven that countries exercising gun control policies have a less gun-centric culture and experience fewer gun-related acts of violence. Senator Henry Johnson Jr’s legislation proposes to “end the epidemic of gun violence and build safer communities by strengthening Federal firearms laws and supporting gun violence research, intervention, and prevention initiatives (“Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020”) . This policy recognizes that the person holding the gun is just as powerful as the gun itself. Firearms possessed by those without proper background checks pose a great threat to the health of our communities. All it takes is one unchecked individual to pull a trigger and unleash irreparable damage, stealing the life of a son, daughter, mother, or father. In an effort to appease both sides of the aisle, it is imperative the US implement a comprehensive and workable gun policy that will protect communities without infringing on citizens’ right to bear arms.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, 39,415 people fell victim to gun violence in 2019. This total includes homicides, murders, unintentional incidents, defensive gun use (DGU), and suicides. Of that total, 15,361 were classified as homicides, murders, unintentional, and DGU, while 24,090 were suicides. Also, 1,582 were related to defensive gun use, and 1,880 were unintentional incidents (“Gun Violence Archive”). In addition, hundreds of thousands more were injured in gun-related incidents. Even in the midst of Governor Pritzker’s stay-at-home order, gun violence in the city of Chicago has continued to rise. Gun-related deaths were up 13 percent in the first quarter of 2020. In total, 93 people were killed in Chicago between January 1 and March 31, compared to 82 murders in 2019 at this same time.
Why does gun control matter to me? I am a seventeen year old student who attends high school in Chicago. I take public transportation 2-4 times a day, 5 days a week. In the winter months, most of my commutes are in the shade of night. Before the stay-at-home order, my classmates and I would go on field experiences all over Chicagoland, sometimes exposing ourselves to neighborhoods with increased criminal activity in order to attend enriching presentations and meetings. This legislation matters because I want to feel safe. I want my family, friends, teachers, and classmates to feel safe. In the past, I have referred back to the Parkland school shooting for my school projects covering the topic of gun violence. It was a traumatic event that shook the nation, for it took the lives of 17 high school students at the hands of a nineteen year old wielding a semi-automatic weapon. The Parkland incident was the first mass school shooting that impacted me as a teenager. I took notice. My parents followed the news and brought us down to the March For Our Lives event in the city. I remember how we carried our signs in a sea of fellow concerned Illinois citizens - parents, grandparents, and children. I remember listening to the survivors speak and watching powerful performances by poets, rappers, and dancers. We all wanted the same thing - for senseless gun violence to stop.
At school, we learn that part of the responsibility of being a global citizen is to support and help spread awareness of important topics and issues impacting our world. I feel this same responsibility for my state and national citizenship. Gun violence is an epidemic impacting our communities, so sensible gun control is an issue I support as an Illinoian AND American. This is why I am writing in support of H.R. 5717: Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020, co-sponsored by Senator Johnson Jr and Senator Warren. Not only does this bill change the sale, transfer, and possession of firearms and ammunition, it also:
One might argue that the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution protects gun ownership and that gun control laws infringe on people’s freedom to own a firearm. Americans need to remember that the 2nd Amendment does NOT give people unlimited rights. Even those who already have guns do not have certain rights, such as carrying them in the open and into schools or office buildings (“The Effects of Background Checks”). One might also argue that gun control laws would take away a person’s right to protect him/herself. I would remind them that guns are rarely used to protect oneself. Of the 29,618,300 violent crimes committed between 2007 and 2011, only 0.79% protected themselves with a firearm. Finally, one might wonder what would stop criminals from breaking the law and obtaining a gun? How would people protect themselves from criminals? Interestingly, legally owned guns are frequently stolen and used by criminals. A 2013 Institute of Medicine report stated that "almost all guns used in criminal acts entered circulation via initial legal transaction." That means the guns were purchased legally, then stolen and used illegally (“Pros & Cons”).
Senators Duckworth and Durbin, I encourage you to review and support Senator Johnson Jr’s proposed gun control legislation co-sponsored with Senator Warren: H.R. 5717: Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020. Not only does this bill change the sale, transfer, and possession of firearms and ammunition, it requires extensive background checks, creates a statutory process for a family or household members to petition for extreme risk protection orders to remove firearms from an individual posing a risk of committing violence, and raises the minimum age to purchase firearms and ammunition to age 21. The State of Illinois looks to you, Senators Duckworth and Durbin, to take action against the epidemic of gun violence our society is suffering. I look forward to supporting your effort to enact these common-sense measures to reduce gun violence.
Sincerely,
SN
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————-
SN
HS Student
ㅡ
GCE Lab School
1535 N Dayton Street
Chicago, IL 60642
snicklin@gcelabschool.org
________________________________________________________________________________
6 MAY 2020
The Honorable Tammy Duckworth
State of Illinois - Senator (D)
8 South Old State Capitol Plaza
Springfield, IL 62701
6 MAY 2020
The Honorable Tammy Duckworth
State of Illinois - Senator (D)
8 South Old State Capitol Plaza
Springfield, IL 62701
The Honorable Richard Durbin
State of Illinois - Senator (D)
525 S. 8th Street
Springfield, IL 62703
Dear Senators Duckworth and Durbin,
I would like to begin this letter by expressing my appreciation for your many years of impactful public service to our great state and nation. In addition, I deeply appreciate taking time out of your busy schedules to read this letter. I am a Junior at GCE Lab School - a small, private, progressive high school in Chicago - and I am writing in support of Senator Henry Johnson Jr’s proposed legislation - H.R. 5717: Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020 - co-sponsored with Senator Elizabeth Warren.
It is proven that countries exercising gun control policies have a less gun-centric culture and experience fewer gun-related acts of violence. Senator Henry Johnson Jr’s legislation proposes to “end the epidemic of gun violence and build safer communities by strengthening Federal firearms laws and supporting gun violence research, intervention, and prevention initiatives (“Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020”) . This policy recognizes that the person holding the gun is just as powerful as the gun itself. Firearms possessed by those without proper background checks pose a great threat to the health of our communities. All it takes is one unchecked individual to pull a trigger and unleash irreparable damage, stealing the life of a son, daughter, mother, or father. In an effort to appease both sides of the aisle, it is imperative the US implement a comprehensive and workable gun policy that will protect communities without infringing on citizens’ right to bear arms.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, 39,415 people fell victim to gun violence in 2019. This total includes homicides, murders, unintentional incidents, defensive gun use (DGU), and suicides. Of that total, 15,361 were classified as homicides, murders, unintentional, and DGU, while 24,090 were suicides. Also, 1,582 were related to defensive gun use, and 1,880 were unintentional incidents (“Gun Violence Archive”). In addition, hundreds of thousands more were injured in gun-related incidents. Even in the midst of Governor Pritzker’s stay-at-home order, gun violence in the city of Chicago has continued to rise. Gun-related deaths were up 13 percent in the first quarter of 2020. In total, 93 people were killed in Chicago between January 1 and March 31, compared to 82 murders in 2019 at this same time.
Why does gun control matter to me? I am a seventeen year old student who attends high school in Chicago. I take public transportation 2-4 times a day, 5 days a week. In the winter months, most of my commutes are in the shade of night. Before the stay-at-home order, my classmates and I would go on field experiences all over Chicagoland, sometimes exposing ourselves to neighborhoods with increased criminal activity in order to attend enriching presentations and meetings. This legislation matters because I want to feel safe. I want my family, friends, teachers, and classmates to feel safe. In the past, I have referred back to the Parkland school shooting for my school projects covering the topic of gun violence. It was a traumatic event that shook the nation, for it took the lives of 17 high school students at the hands of a nineteen year old wielding a semi-automatic weapon. The Parkland incident was the first mass school shooting that impacted me as a teenager. I took notice. My parents followed the news and brought us down to the March For Our Lives event in the city. I remember how we carried our signs in a sea of fellow concerned Illinois citizens - parents, grandparents, and children. I remember listening to the survivors speak and watching powerful performances by poets, rappers, and dancers. We all wanted the same thing - for senseless gun violence to stop.
At school, we learn that part of the responsibility of being a global citizen is to support and help spread awareness of important topics and issues impacting our world. I feel this same responsibility for my state and national citizenship. Gun violence is an epidemic impacting our communities, so sensible gun control is an issue I support as an Illinoian AND American. This is why I am writing in support of H.R. 5717: Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020, co-sponsored by Senator Johnson Jr and Senator Warren. Not only does this bill change the sale, transfer, and possession of firearms and ammunition, it also:
- requires individuals to obtain a license to purchase or possess a firearm or ammunition,
- raises the minimum age to purchase firearms and ammunition from 18 years to 21 years,
- establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties,
- requires law enforcement agencies to be notified following a firearms-related background check that results in a denial,
- creates a statutory process for a family or household member to petition a court for an extreme risk protection order to remove firearms from an individual who poses a risk of committing violence,
- restricts the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices,
- restricts the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, or receipt of ghost guns (i.e., guns without serial numbers),
- makes trafficking in firearms a stand-alone criminal offense,
- requires federally licensed gun dealers to, annually, submit and certify compliance with a security plan to detect and deter firearm theft,
- removes limitations on the civil liability of gun manufacturers,
- allows the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue safety standards for firearms and firearm components,
- establishes a community violence intervention grant program, and
- promotes research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention (“Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020”).
One might argue that the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution protects gun ownership and that gun control laws infringe on people’s freedom to own a firearm. Americans need to remember that the 2nd Amendment does NOT give people unlimited rights. Even those who already have guns do not have certain rights, such as carrying them in the open and into schools or office buildings (“The Effects of Background Checks”). One might also argue that gun control laws would take away a person’s right to protect him/herself. I would remind them that guns are rarely used to protect oneself. Of the 29,618,300 violent crimes committed between 2007 and 2011, only 0.79% protected themselves with a firearm. Finally, one might wonder what would stop criminals from breaking the law and obtaining a gun? How would people protect themselves from criminals? Interestingly, legally owned guns are frequently stolen and used by criminals. A 2013 Institute of Medicine report stated that "almost all guns used in criminal acts entered circulation via initial legal transaction." That means the guns were purchased legally, then stolen and used illegally (“Pros & Cons”).
Senators Duckworth and Durbin, I encourage you to review and support Senator Johnson Jr’s proposed gun control legislation co-sponsored with Senator Warren: H.R. 5717: Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020. Not only does this bill change the sale, transfer, and possession of firearms and ammunition, it requires extensive background checks, creates a statutory process for a family or household members to petition for extreme risk protection orders to remove firearms from an individual posing a risk of committing violence, and raises the minimum age to purchase firearms and ammunition to age 21. The State of Illinois looks to you, Senators Duckworth and Durbin, to take action against the epidemic of gun violence our society is suffering. I look forward to supporting your effort to enact these common-sense measures to reduce gun violence.
Sincerely,
SN
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CITATIONS
“Congressman Hank Johnson.” Congressman Hank Johnson, hankjohnson.house.gov/.
“The Effects of Background Checks.” RAND Corporation, www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/background-checks.html.
“Gun Violence Archive.” Gun Violence Archive, www.gunviolencearchive.org/past-tolls.
“Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020 (H.R. 5717).” GovTrack.us, www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr5717.
“U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois.” Home | U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, www.durbin.senate.gov/.
“U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.” Home | U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, www.duckworth.senate.gov/.
“Pros & Cons - ProCon.org.” Gun Control, gun-control.procon.org/.
“U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.” Home, www.warren.senate.gov/.
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