A somber start
Iowa deals with aftermath of school shooting
Our nation’s young people have had enough. In Iowa yesterday, they walked out of class to protest gun violence, which tragically visited the state last week. On the first day back to school after the winter holidays, an 11-year-old was killed and seven others were injured in a school shooting in Perry. It remains unclear where the 17-year-old shooter, who was allegedly bullied, obtained the pump-action shotgun and small-caliber handgun in his possession when he was found deceased following the rampage. But he made his intentions clear beforehand on social media sites like TikTok and Discord.
In 2023, gun violence overall waned a bit after pandemic highs, but mass shootings hit historic levels and rightfully received much attention. At the same time, many states are dropping gun ownership requirements rather than tightening them up. Last year marked the first year that a majority of states have adopted so-called constitutional carry, meaning citizens can carry concealed guns without a permit. Iowa happens to be one of the states with some of the loosest gun laws.
Naturally, Americans have responded. Gun ownership boomed during the pandemic, even among people who never expected to hold, much less own, a gun. And fears about crime, social breakdown, and political violence have led to Americans from various walks of life becoming new gun owners. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. There are countless examples of citizens using their Second Amendment right to protect themselves and their families.
But with more guns in circulation, keeping them safe becomes paramount. That might mean using better storage technologies, like that developed by Vara Safety, which makes a mounted handgun holster that locks a gun in place and unlocks it with a fingerprint. Or offsite gun storage, such as that offered by Allegheny Arms, which keeps guns out of the house. Or responsive tools, like SafeDefend’s AI gun detectors, bulletproof tables, and automatically locking doors that protect kids and school employees from mass shooters. Or community violence interventions that aim to prevent violence before it even starts.
The big question remains: could better laws or safety precautions have prevented the shooting in Perry? Until we have all the details, we don’t know yet. But other states’ experiences are instructive. And notably in this case, there is supportive evidence that policies that prevent youth access to guns reduce both homicides and suicides among young people. Maybe it’s time that we listened to them.