By Joseph (Hongjae) Kim, 2018

Based on data in 2012, the United States’ gunshot murder rate is approaching 10,000 deaths per year, which is even higher than that of Chile and Turkey: the countries that possess the second and third titles of highest gunshot murder rates in the world. Moreover, 74 fatal school gunshot cases that resulted in at least 194 children victims have transpired since the Newton tragedy: the Sandy Hook Elementary School case, almost one case every 9 days.

Even before my family and I traveled to America and settled in Seattle, America seemed to be a miraculous, wonderous place that could provide with an opportunity to begin totally new life unlike the tedious, mundane routine in Korea. And I was not wrong; I am so grateful for everyone who buttressed my plan for studying in this opportunity-based land. Although there were heralds about gunshot homicides announced regularly (new gunshot cases regularly reported as the previous case was nearly fading from my mind), it still had made me assuaged when I deemed all those cases as hapless situations of “others”. However, after the catastrophe in Marysville-Pilchuck High School, I began to realize that I am not in a secure state, and to empathize with those who died in this Marysville Pilchuck HS case and others who witnessed process of all happening.

Watching the spirit and soul of a person vanish from his or her body in real life definitely contrasts war movies on television. Even demise without any blood or gore can be tremendous dismay to someone. For instance, in sports, there are some calamities in which players become harshly injured and haplessly die. Watching the person gradually die in real life can cause a great astoundation. After the disaster, the world and people look different. It is like watching your parents after they chastise you. And, they saw everything. Those who stayed in the cafeteria in Marysville Pilchuck High School saw everything. They saw blood and gore as a people were shot and bullets pierced their flesh; witnesses saw everything.

Guns do not only deprive souls. They also take souls away from living ones too. They cause enormous trauma to other people related with victims and perniciously contaminate their spirits. The people who witnessed whole processes of homicide, parents who lose their children, friends who lose their companions, teachers who lose their students all witness a loss of freedom.

It is definite that incremental gun availability is correlated with increase in number of homicides and crimes. More specifically, researchers found that increase of each percentage point in proportion of gun ownership is connected to 0.9% increase in homicides. Nevertheless, only 52% of Americans reckon that the gun regulation should be more stringent.

Whether Americans are eager for the solution for gunshot cases or not, they have to realize some facts. First, you have to struggle against the threat of guns in any time because it is so omnipresent. Also, more gun means more gunshot murders. It does not suggest freedom. It suggests the destruction of freedom.