Editorial: Gun Violence issues in United States need to be solved 

Gun Violence has become a prominent topic of debate in the United States, especially as levels of gun violence have climbed in recent years. However, although instances of gun violence have increased, there has still been much resistance by citizens and lawmakers alike to work towards solving this issue.    

 

“More than 44,000 people died of gunshot wounds [in 2024],” said The Trace, a news source focused specifically on covering gun violence. 

 

While these 40,000 plus deaths are a slight decrease in deaths from 2023, they are still an alarmingly high amount. In fact, the number of gun violence deaths since 2020 have been historically high, as “until the year 2020, the country [United States] had never surpassed 40,000 gun deaths in a single year,” The Trace said. 

 

There are multiple factors that account for this increase in gun violence deaths since the year 2020. The main contributor to the increase is attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic. The country shut down which led to increased isolation, leading to an increase in overall mental health issues. This, in turn, contributed to an increase in gun suicides which made up approximately “27,600, or almost two-thirds of all gun deaths [in 2024],” according to The Trace. 

 

A further explanation of why we saw this increase in gun violence deaths following 2020 had to do with the executive administration. The Trump Administration, a Republican administration, was in power in the White House from 2016-2020. The Trump Administration took an incredibly pro-gun stance which led to a rollback in gun restrictions, a probable factor in the increase of gun violence deaths seen following 2020. 

 

However, the Trump Administration's rule came to an end in 2020, and the Biden Administration took over. A Democratic organization, Biden’s White House increased gun restrictions. In addition, it established the “first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention to reduce gun violence,” which the Biden Administration believed had “ravaged communities across the country…” According to the Biden White House Archives. 

 

In addition to establishing this office, the Biden Administration, and more specifically the Legislative Branch, were able to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act which “enhanced the background check process for purchasers ages 18 to 21, prohibited straw purchases [buying gun for someone who can not buy it themselves] and gun trafficking, and added dating partners in the list of domestic abusers ineligible to possess a firearm legally for a period of five years,” along with investing in communities and mental health programs to help prevent gun violence according to research published in The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 

 

So, many articles attribute the slight decrease in gun violence seen in 2024 to the first effects of these policies being seen, which was a positive sign for the future. However, in 2025 the Trump Administration took back control of the White House and both Chambers of the Legislative Branch. The administration has “cut funding for gun violence research, slashed grants to intervention programs, and ended the Biden administration’s zero-tolerance policy for lawbreaking gun dealers,” The Trace said.  

 

Because these cuts only started January 2025, it will likely take a bit of time to see the effects in the data. However, experts have predicted that these cuts and relaxations on policies will have negative effects in the near future, causing another spike in gun violence deaths and hundreds of unnecessary lives lost. 

 

Now, the future is not completely dim. There were multiple special elections held in November 2025, and the Democrats swept the elections in what is referred to as the “Blue Wave.” This sweep has given hope that the Democrats may be able to flip at least one Chamber of the Legislative Branch in the upcoming 2026 midterms. In turn, gun-restriction proponents hope the Democrats will be able to undo actions taken by the Trump Administration to minimize the harm felt because of the rescinding of gun laws.  

 

However, it is not just people in a position of power who have a voice in the fight against gun violence. It is also the everyday citizens. The most powerful tool one has is the power to vote for the people in a position of power. If one is passionate about reducing gun violence, they should look into the candidates they can vote for to gauge their position on gun violence. And, by voting for those who support gun restrictions, the everyday citizen can shape policies and laws put in place at the federal and State level. 

 

Furthermore, citizens have the right to protest. One of the codified rights granted in the First Amendment is the right to protest. To properly protest for gun restrictions, or against the gun policies being rescinded by the Trump Administration, there are diverse steps that need to be taken. Most notably, someone needs to take charge in organizing a time, people, and a place that will lead to maximum visibility and effect. 

 

Furthermore, individuals can donate to organizations such as Everytown for Gun Safety and March for Our Lives, organizations dedicated to ending gun violence in the United States. 

 

There is no one way to get involved. No matter what one does, as long as they are making their voice against gun violence heard, they will have an effect. How individuals will be able to get involved depends on time, resources, location, and much more. But, it is important to remember that, no matter how small, any action can be the domino that leads to great change.