There have been 264 mass shootings in 274 days this year in America, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

Between 2004 and 2013, there have been 316,000 firearms-related deaths, compared to 313 deaths related to foreign terrorism in America, according to a study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Department.

These facts are staggering. They show that America undoubtedly has a huge problem with firearm violence. However, closer examination of this data is necessary.

When Americans think of mass shootings, they think of Columbine, Sandy Hook, Aurora, and now, sadly, Umpqua Community College. These incidents are horrific and saddening for the entire nation. People should not be dying this way in our country.

Not all mass shootings are school shootings or mall shootings, though. A mass shooting refers to four people being involved in the act, excluding the shooter. It would be interesting to see how many of those 264 mass shootings involved gang violence. People should not assume that there have been 264 shootings at schools this year.

As for the terrorism fact, that one makes sense. Billions of dollars are spent protecting Americans from terrorism, showing why the number is so much lower than the firearm one.

These facts, if only taken at face value, can easily distort the truth within them. A great example of this is the criticism Jeb Bush is currently facing on social media.

#Stuffhappens made its rounds on social media, referring to a Bush quote on the Umpqua shootings. Those who use the hashtag label Bush as a monster because his response when asked about the shooting was apparently a heartless, “Stuff happens.”

“… Stuff happens, there’s always a crisis. And the impulse is always to do something and it’s not necessarily the right thing to do.” That is the full quote by Bush, which easily clears up what he is trying to say.

Yes, the word choice may have been poor, but two words were appropriated from that quote and attributed as the whole response from Bush, simply because they make for better headlines and could fit into a hashtag.

Bush is right. President Barack Obama is right, too, saying that every time there is a mass shooting, the same routine is played out. We are becoming numb to these horrific crimes because they happen so often. Turn on the news and you will see that there actually is a crisis in America on a weekly basis. Both men are right.

The quick impulse would be to take guns from American citizens. Guns are being used to kill people, so if we take away what is used to kill people, the problem will be solved, right?

Imagine what would happen if the government tried to take guns away from Americans. It is not hard to imagine that another civil war would break out. Guns are an integral part of American society, and there is no feasible way to take them. Guns and freedom are almost synonymous in America, and that is how it has been since the Bill of Rights was created. They should not be taken away.

Insane people are always going to exist. Yes, stricter background checks and other gun regulations should be implemented, but people are going to find a way to hurt others, whether they have a gun or not. The county that Umpqua Community College is located in actually had implemented stricter gun regulations, and this shooting still happened.

The focus should be on making sure guns are only in the hands of people who know how to use them correctly and safely. People should be taught gun safety. The focus should be on keeping guns out of the hands of those with mental health problems. The government should be acting on gun control, but in these ways. The act of taking away guns is too extreme and feels like something that would happen in George Orwell’s “1984.”

The reality is that crime and violence will always exist, regardless of the means by which it is carried out, and the focus must be on lessening it, not doing away with it. This may be harsh, but people are always going to do terrible things to others. Crises like mass violence will never fully go away, just like guns will never fully go away, so the goal needs to be on lessening the frequency and impact of such events.

America is becoming numb to mass shootings and it is sad. Too many families are being affected by deaths from mass shootings. However, the right action must be taken after these tragedies and extreme gun control is not that action, especially in America.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer. They are not directly the opinions of The Slate, its staff or Shippensburg University as a whole. Concerns or letters to the editor can be sent to shipspeaks@gmail.com.

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