Gun Debate: Where Is The Middle Ground

According to Mallory Simon in her article “Gun Debate: Where Is the Middle Ground?” there is a necessity to find common ground in the gun debate in America after incidents like the shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and the “school massacre” in Newtown, Connecticut. Amardeep Kaleka, whose father was gunned down in the Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin, questions whether representatives from panelists such as the National Rifle Association, the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence, law enforcement representatives, and other participants can agree on anything. Sandra Froman of the National Rifle Association believes there is common ground; however, when Dan Gross of the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence mentioned common ground when

dealing with background checks, Froman contested additional background checks. Charles Ramsey, Philadelphia Police Commissioner, says he would spend “whatever it took” to run a background check on everyone who wants to purchase a gun saying, “The status quo is not acceptable.” In addition to background checks, other solutions Simon examines are armed guards at schools, databases to aid in keeping guns away from the mentally ill, addressing widespread violence in society, and Liza Long’s recommendation of “making people less dangerous.” Ultimately, Kaleka understands that while one solution won’t please everyone, we are on the right track when increasing the enforcement of background checks.