By Naomi Lawrence ’17

A man walks into a community college in Oregon. It sounds like a set-up to a terrible joke, but it’s not. While this man was there, he shot and killed nine people, eventually turning the gun on himself. Mass shootings have become so regular lately that many aren’t even phased by the innocent lives taken by these psychopaths. All in all, these shootings result in rising conflict over gun laws. While democrats argue that restrictions on gun accessibility should be tighter, Republicans don’t see the effectiveness of that solution. Many conservatives agree with Jeb Bush, Republican presidential candidate, as he blatantly pointed out that “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.” While increasing security on gun accessibility may have good intentions, the focus should be on the people who commit these mass murders, and getting them the psychiatric help they need, whether that be placing them in mental institutions or sending them to therapy. Just like with drugs, if people are motivated enough, they will find a way to purchase weapons illegally, regardless of how strict the laws are. If we put more effort into reducing the number of crazies out on the street, violence won’t be such an immense issue.