‘Get God and family and community back into our lives’: Is Rep. Jackson right about TX shooting?

Siam (No)

Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson demanding leaders 'repair' the nation's damaged culture and 'encourage' God in the classroom misses the boat on appropriate remarks following a tragic shooting. Even though Texas is a highly religious state already, they have been the site of several mass shootings in recent years. The horrific killings done by the Uvalde school shooter resulted from the accessibility of guns, not God. 

Gun control continues to be a neglected issue in the US. Just last week, ten people were killed by guns at a supermarket in Buffalo, NY. There seem to be dozens of shootings frequently occurring in almost every state, causing Americans to live in fear. Countless surveys indicate that children live in fear, and nothing has seemed effective in stopping these horrific killings. Without effective legislation, many more children will die from senseless gun violence, which is now all too common in the nation. Hillary Clinton rightfully said offering 'thoughts and prayers' was not enough, as 'after years of nothing else, we are becoming a nation of anguished screams. We simply need legislators willing to stop the scourge of gun violence in America that is murdering our children.'

There is no other nation that sees the same level of gun deaths despite having their citizens also suffer from domestic violence and mental health issues. The 18-year-old shooter obtained the guns legally, and Gov. Abbott had previously signed legislation allowing permitless carry.

There are a significant number of Americans with mental and behavioral issues; it is vital to keep guns away from them. With all the guns in circulation, this should be of preeminent importance to all Americans, most of all, our legislators. 

Tyler (Yes)

Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson's comments regarding the recent Uvalde elementary school shooting helped pinpoint some possible root causes of the situation. While he maintained his full support for the Second Amendment, he also managed to introduce some matters that can be addressed to prevent this from happening in the future.

Texas is the 11th most religious state, ranking them ahead of most. However, every ten years, the amount of Texas residents affiliated with a church decreases. Rep. Jackson is right to see this as the issue it is and indicative of a pervasive pattern being seen across America as US church membership is on the decline. Less than half of Americans belong to a formal church body. The nation’s rapid straying from religion may have some correlation to the increase in shootings and overall mental/emotional despair among Americans. Although America promotes religious freedom, people seem to be exercising this freedom to choose to practice no type of religion at all. Providing troubled children with a sense of family and community built on a foundation of common faith can help nurture future youth and identify what help they may need. 

By referencing 'community,' he expounded on making mental health resources more readily available. Jackson supports the right of Americans to bear arms, but he also feels people should be more equipped towards mental stability. Many of those who have committed mass shootings have been found to have a serious mental illness. If these issues are adequately addressed, these behaviors can be recognized early on and prevented before they eventually develop into violence. While gun violence is an issue that also warrants discussion, leaders must address the root cause behind people choosing to attack their fellow community members with guns.