The Solution to America’s Gun Problem

There is an epidemic of mass shootings in America.

Gun control advocates cite this as the reason why we need to adopt tougher gun laws to restrict the purchase and spread of firearms.  Gun freedom proponents point out that mass-shootings would end with less loss-of-life if the public were armed.

The solution to America’s gun problem is simple.

I point out the fact that the vast majority of mass shootings happen in places where no guns are allowed, like schools and public gathering places.  Very few mass-shootings occur in places where guns are not allowed AND security screens for them, such as airports and federal buildings. That means the problem is not whether to allow guns or disallow them.  The problem arises when we create gun-free zones and don’t enforce them with proper security measures.

If you create a gun-free zone, you need to check everyone entering for guns.  Otherwise, you create an area where everybody is sitting a duck, and a heavily-armed duck hunter can come in to take advantage unchallenged.

Gun screening already happens at airports and federal buildings.  Why does it not happen in schools and public gathering places?

So to fix the problem in schools, I can only see three choices: 

1) allow guns in schools to anyone legally authorized to carry one, 

2) increase armed police presence, or 

3) enforce the weapons ban in schools the same way as we do in airports or federal buildings—by screening for guns at all entrances.