Who or What's to Blame for School Shootings?

Mass shootings at U.S. schools have become a tragic and concerning trend. But where should we place the blame? 

At least 21 people were killed, including 19 children, after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday. The alleged shooter reportedly purchased the weapons used on his 18th birthday. President Joe Biden gave an address Tuesday night, asking "When in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?"

Biden and Democrats, as well as many liberals and others across the political spectrum, tend to place the blame for mass shootings on guns, loose gun laws, gun manufacturers, the National Rifle Association, and Republican politicians who oppose more laws restricting gun ownership. Conversely, many conservatives and others across the spectrum focus more on the shooters themselves and issues with mental health and morality among the U.S. public, and are often critical of Democrats for supporting widespread gun restrictions that may strip law-abiding citizens of their 2nd Amendment right to bear arms.

Voices on the left tend to see more gun restrictions as the way to prevent more mass shootings. Voices on the right tend to emphasize personal responsibility, proper parenting and education, and self-defense through responsible gun ownership.