The US is making headlines across the world right now for the wrong reason, record-breaking gun deaths. Recently, a mass shooting in Orlando was labeled as the “deadliest mass shooting in US history.”
These shootings sparked debates between politicians, US residents and the global community wondering why more isn’t being done to combat gun violence in the US. This is a complex, complicated issue, that the US needs to figure out now. As time goes on, gun violence only becomes more common without change. Many other countries figured this out years ago.
Senator Chris Murphy's 15-hour #filibuster on gun control ended with him declaring victory https://t.co/KjQHUNPGbYpic.twitter.com/oyRbTKhC1h
— NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) June 16, 2016
The death toll due to gun violence is significantly lower in other European countries than in the US.
The New York Times reported that you are more likely to be killed by a falling object in US than you are from gun violence in Germany. ; in the Netherlands, it’s about as common as dying from accidental gas poisoning; and in New Zealand, it’s about are rare as being killed by a falling ladder.
In the US, the equivalent of 27 people shot dead every day.
In a country where the right to bear arms is favored by 52 percent of the population, death tolls by guns are at an all-time high and have become a concern for the public.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is fed up with the amount of gun violence in the US. "I am prepared to stand on the Senate floor and talk about the need to prevent gun violence for as long as I can. I've had #Enough," Murphy tweeted shortly before taking the floor.
I am prepared to stand on the Senate floor and talk about the need to prevent gun violence for as long as I can. I've had #Enough
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 15, 2016
On Wednesday, June 15, around 11:20 a.m., Sen. Murphy launched a filibuster from the Senate floor, vowing to stay standing until Congress acts on gun control legislation. Murphy was joined by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)
Murphy filibustered an unrelated bill in hopes of forcing Congress to take action — asking to expand background checks and make it illegal for people on the FBI’s suspected terrorism watch list and no-fly list to buy guns.
Sen. Murphy and fellow Democrats held the floor for nearly 15 hours talking about gun control. The stand-off ended when the GOP agreed to allow voting on the two proposed gun control laws.
It’s a step forward in the US for gun control. However the message is clear something needs to be done, soon.
In a world full of violence and terror, we need to stand together in an effort to protect the global community, whether that means changing laws or mindsets. In light of the recent incident, the world has rallied in support of the victims in hopes to #EndGunViolence, in the US and across the world, once and for all.