“Ban guns” — sounds like the right thing to do, doesn’t it? I can understand the thought, but would encourage you to think about the big picture. I ask you this: what are the true implications of banning guns?

One is you’re banning guns from responsible people. Responsible citizens who use guns for the right purposes are the people who go about attaining guns legally. There are many examples of people with intent to do harm with guns, acquiring them illegally and without regard for the laws that are already in place.

You think you’re standing for the right cause by saying that guns should not be allowed. The problem is your emotional and close-minded point of view. I sound like the bad guy when I argue to fight gun violence with more guns, but why shouldn’t that option be considered? What more can you do other than stand there defenseless and unarmed? It may be an unpopular opinion, especially in our schools, to fight fire with more fire, but emotions aside, think with objectivity and rationality. By putting an armed, trained, responsible adult or group in the way of those trying to cause harm and upheaval, you provide deterrence and potentially diffuse a life-threatening and harmful situation.

I’m fed up with people in this school and country basing their opinions on guns and many other critical issues on what they see and hear in the mainstream media. The media often presents a deafening, left-sided slant that tries to make the Republican party look utterly selfish and barbaric in their reasoning. A conservative voice or opinion is often not heard when most celebrities and big media accounts are extremely liberal. Conservatives around the country feel ostracized and are fearful to voice their opinion due to the simple fact that they would be labeled as insensitive and heartless. Base your opinions on facts, not on what you see within the media or the influence and persuasion techniques of others.

Guns are already in circulation within the United States, and regardless of any gun banning laws that could be established, they are not going away. The mindset for fighting a power such as this is with something of equal or more capability. The option of having all teachers trained and armed with a firearm may not be optimal, however, the probability of gun-free zones being attacked by a gunman is much more than in a location that has armed guards defending it. Citing from a published analysis of incidents involving gun violence from 1998 through 2015 by the Crime Prevention Research Center, mass shootings that occured in places where guns were allowed only contributed to 3.8% of the total shootings recorded, while gun-free zones made up the remaining 96.2% of shootings. The overwhelming statistic displays a simple lesson: with the decision to arm people within a certain place, it greatly diminishes the chance of a gun violence incident.

If this country heightens background checks before selling guns, it will reduce the number of unwanted gun owners, people who only want to cause harm to society. The question is what is this country and government going to do to minimize and eliminate illegal gunmen, because that is where the true battle lies.

In conclusion, given the current crisis and stalemate that Democrats and Republicans find themselves in on gun issues, it is important to find alternative ways to decrease these occurrences without banning guns. Solutions such as raising the age requirement to purchase a gun, keeping firearms locked in a safe away from adolescents, offering a stable environment for your children and being attentive towards them, being aware of others and their mental states (especially when the warning signs are prevalent), having local and federal law enforcement officials improve their processes and be more responsive to tipline information, and simply being a responsible citizen are all ways of keeping your community a safer place and making a difference.