You’re dressing your child for school and preparing them for their first day of kindergarten. You tell him to make new friends and remember to “pack their manners.” You bring them to the bus stop and wave as it drives away. You think to yourself, ‘He should have a good day, right?’ Hours later you hear one of the worst things a parent can hear: a shooter had entered your child’s school. You feel hopeless as all you can do is wait. New legislation is needed to effectively outlaw high-capacity magazines, and close any loopholes that enable minors to purchase any assault weapon. 

The main issue that enables school shooters to inflict the most damage is the use of high-capacity magazines and assault weapons. The Center for American Progress, an independent nonpartisan policy institute, found that “An analysis of mass shootings committed from 2009 through 2018 found that when assault weapons were used, six times more people were shot compared with hose incidents in which other firearms were used. Similarly, when high-capacity magazines were used, five times more people were shot compared with those mass shootings with no high-capacity magazines.” Assault rifle bans have to be enacted throughout America as it is one of the only ways to reduce school shooting-related casualties. The US Government has to prohibit the sale of high-capacity magazines to civilians. There is no justifiable reason for a regular citizen to possess a high-capacity magazine. 

Congress has to re-enact the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act (commonly called the assault weapons ban) in order to limit the ability of those to engage in school shootings. This act effectively banned high-capacity bans as the act “banned magazines that could accommodate 10 rounds or more” (Elving). This act would effectively reduce the number of school shootings the United States faces every year. 

No student should be afraid to go to school. Assault weapon bans and high-magazine bans effectively eliminate this fear. The only way for the Public Safety and Recreation Firearms Use Protection Act to be re-enacted is by petitioning your respective congressperson. Public outcry facilitates change, and is change needed.