Should Lawmakers Pass Stricter Gun Control Laws to Prevent Future Mass Shootings?

In response to the Uvalde school shooting, many lawmakers are debating what changes need to be put in place in order to prevent future mass shootings. 

While all 50 Democratic Senators would likely back stricter gun control legislation, a lack of Republican support would prevent them from getting the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday that the Senate is "going to vote on gun legislation" and pleaded with his Republican colleagues to "work with us now" in light of the recent mass shooting. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr on Tuesday night criticized the U.S. Senate for failing to pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, which would expand federal background checks required for gun purchases. 

Left-rated voices were more likely to promote more gun restrictions as a potential solution to prevent more mass shootings. While the Second Amendment "doesn’t have to be destroyed to save our country," one opinion piece published in CNN (Left bias) argued, it shouldn't be "treated as more important than the lives of children." Conversely, many right-rated voices expressed that the Democrats need to learn how to compromise with Republicans if they want to create substantial change. David Harsanyi, a senior editor at The Federalist (Right bias), argued that "law-abiding Americans" shouldn't have to take responsibility for "a madman’s actions." He concluded that Democrats should offer "realistic, productive, and germane ideas rather than using another horrific tragedy to dunk on their political opponents."