The Gun Violence Epidemic

No Fun Puns About Guns

Ephraim Rosenstock, Staff Writer • September 27, 2023

Gun laws in the U.S. desperately need revision; after over 470 mass shootings since the beginning of this year, this shouldn’t come as a shock. Far too long have communities, schools, and families been torn apart by acts of atrocity enabled by access to weapons of mass killing. There is no reason an individual should have the ability to shoot many hundreds of rounds at worshipers in a Pittsburgh synagogue, students in Uvalde, shoppers in El Paso, or concert-goers in Las Vegas.

Gun-related homicide and suicide rates in high-income OECD countries, 2010, countries in graph ordered by total death rates. Image via WikiCommons.

In 1999, SDSU Professor Chen Lieng, 32, walked into a laboratory on August 15th. It was a cold day – San Diego was having its highest daily low temperature of 73 degrees. He was there to listen to Fredrick Martin Davidson’s – a friend, coworker, and student – defense of his master’s thesis. Fellow professors Preston Lowrey III, 44, and Constantinos Lyrintzis, 36, took their seats alongside him just before 2 p.m. As the meeting started, Lieng rose to give a brief intro speech – but Davidson wasn’t there to listen to the professors critique his thesis. As soon as Lieng sat back down, Davidson pulled a handgun out of a first aid kit and sent a volley of bullets at the professor, killing him almost immediately. As Lyrintzis and Lowrey began to flee, the Army veteran followed and killed them with tactical and methodical precision. With a suicide note tucked in his pocket, Davidson surrendered to campus police shortly thereafter. Lieng’s wife and two kids never saw him again.

LJHS junior Jason Leib said, “[Gun laws] need to be stricter. Too many people have access who shouldn’t.” The professors were just a few of the people affected by overly loose gun regulation – so far, in 2023 alone, there have been over 34,000 deaths due to gun violence. So, what revisions need to be made? Well, if the American culture around guns won’t change, the laws must. According to WIRED, study after study has shown that, on a state-by-state basis, looser gun laws lead to more mass shootings. I urge you, dear reader, to protest, write a letter to a politician, and/or become informed. Make a difference.

About the Contributor

Ephraim Rosenstock, Staff Writer

Ephraim “Ephi” Rosenstock is a freshman at La Jolla High and is thrilled to be beginning his first year on the Journalism team as a staff writer for Hi-Tide. His primary goal whilst here is to serve the community through informing them about important events. He has a keen interest in world politics and events and wants to continue developing his perspective on them. Ephi also hopes that he can build his understanding of the student body via interviews and polls. Throughout the class he wants to improve his writing skills, critical thinking skills, people skills, and storytelling. He is delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of the Hi-Tide and hopes to have an amazing school year!