St. Paul, Minnesota March 7, 2018. Around 4000 high school students walked out of school and marched to the Minnesota capitol to demand that legislators make changes to gun control laws.

Gun control is essential for public safety. Reasonable regulations on firearm ownership, use, and distribution reduce violence, save lives, and promote a culture of responsibility over fear.

Gun violence has become so normalized in the United States that “active shooter drills” are a routine part of childhood education. This isn’t the mark of a free society; it’s a symptom of systemic failure. Firearms were the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in 2020, surpassing motor vehicle accidents. The U.S. experiences more mass shootings than any other high-income country, with gun deaths exceeding 45,000 annually—nearly half of which are suicides, highlighting the complex intersection of gun access and mental health.

Constant exposure to gun violence—whether through personal experience, media coverage, or the mere possibility—creates a climate of fear and hyper-vigilance. This chronic stress affects mental health, community cohesion, and cognitive development in children. A 2018 study in Pediatrics linked exposure to gun violence with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Gun violence also exacerbates social inequalities. Communities of color, particularly Black and Indigenous communities, experience disproportionately high rates of firearm-related deaths, often compounded by systemic racism in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Addressing gun violence requires confronting these root causes, including poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to mental health services.

The economic cost of gun violence is staggering. A 2021 report from Everytown for Gun Safety estimates that gun violence costs the U.S. over $280 billion annually, including healthcare expenses, law enforcement resources, lost productivity, and legal costs. These resources could be redirected to education, healthcare, and community development—investments that address the root causes of violence rather than its symptoms.

Effective gun control isn’t about banning all firearms; it’s about common-sense regulations that prioritize public safety while respecting individual rights. Comprehensive background checks, mandatory waiting periods, safe storage laws, and restrictions on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons are proven measures. The International Association of Chiefs of Police supports such reforms, emphasizing that they protect both civilians and law enforcement officers. Safe storage laws are particularly effective. A 2019 study in JAMA Pediatrics found that secure firearm storage could prevent up to one-third of youth firearm deaths in the U.S.

Internationally, the success stories are numerous. In Norway, following the 2011 Utoya massacre, the government tightened gun laws, including bans on semi-automatic firearms. Switzerland, often cited by gun rights advocates for its high gun ownership rates, has strict regulations, mandatory training, and rigorous background checks—resulting in low gun crime rates compared to the U.S.

In Japan, gun-related deaths are so rare that a single incident makes national headlines. This isn’t due to cultural differences alone; it’s the result of rigorous background checks, mandatory training, mental health evaluations, and limits on types of civilians firearms. Australia offers a particularly instructive case. Following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, where 35 people were killed, the government implemented sweeping gun reforms. The National Firearms Agreement introduced mandatory buybacks, strict licensing requirements, and bans on semi-automatic rifles and shotguns. The results were immediate and profound. Gun-related homicides and suicides dropped significantly, and Australia has not experienced a mass shooting since.

Critics of gun control often invoke the right to self-defense, arguing that “good guys with guns” deter crime. However, evidence consistently refutes this claim. A comprehensive review by the Harvard School of Public Health found that guns are rarely used effectively in self-defense, and owning a firearm increases the risk of homicide, suicide, and accidental shootings. Another argument is that gun control doesn’t work because criminals will obtain weapons illegally. This logic fails to account for the fact that stronger gun laws correlate with lower gun violence rates, even when accounting for illegal firearms. States and countries with stricter regulations consistently report fewer gun deaths.

The role of the gun industry cannot be ignored. In the U.S., the firearms lobby exerts enormous influence over politics, shaping legislation and public perception. The National Rifle Association (NRA), once a marksmanship and hunting organization, has become a political powerhouse, framing any regulation as an existential threat to freedom. This narrative serves corporate profits, not public safety. But freedom isn’t the absence of regulation; it’s the presence of security, dignity, and the ability to live without fear.

Gun control also intersects with broader issues of masculinity and violence. The glorification of guns often ties into toxic masculinity, equating weapon ownership with power and identity. This cultural dynamic contributes to domestic violence, mass shootings, and aggressive policing. Addressing gun violence requires challenging these narratives and promoting healthier models of masculinity rooted in emotional intelligence, empathy, and nonviolence.

Community-based violence prevention programs offer effective, evidence-based solutions. Initiatives like Cure Violence in Chicago treat gun violence as a public health issue, employing community members to mediate conflicts and change social norms around violence. Evaluations published in The Lancet have shown significant reductions in shootings where such programs are implemented.

Ultimately, gun control is about creating a culture where life is valued over ideology, where the right to live free from violence outweighs the right to own a deadly weapon without accountability.

Therefore, under Folklaw:

Comprehensive gun control laws shall be enacted to protect public safety. These include universal background checks, mandatory waiting periods, safe storage requirements, and licensing for all firearm purchases. Assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and firearms designed for rapid mass casualties will be banned. Gun ownership will be restricted for individuals with histories of domestic violence, violent crime, or mental health conditions posing a risk to themselves or others.

Firearms will be subject to regular registration and renewal processes, with mandatory training and certification. Additionally, public education campaigns will promote responsible gun ownership, conflict resolution, and nonviolent cultural norms. Community-based violence prevention programs will be funded and integrated into public health strategies.