In the first half of 2025, 10,567 Americans have been killed from gun violence, according to Gun Violence Archive. This has been a combination of mass shootings, school shootings, political violence, and suicides. Since January 1, there have been 47 school shootings. On September 10, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was brutally murdered in Utah during a speaking event. Also on September 10, two high school students were shot at the Evergreen High School in Colorado. With attacks across the political spectrum, will America rejoice or continue to point fingers?
September 10, 2025 marks a clear date in U.S. history for gun violence. Nearly all news and social media outlets covered the horrific events at either the Charlie Kirk college showing and/or Evergreen High School. Guns were in the hands of Americans with the mission to kill, and they succeeded.
This tragic day not only marks a gruesome day of gun violence, but exemplifies the strange, selective empathy of American citizens. Selective empathy occurs when an individual has direct compassion for one group of people while neglecting another. One group mourns Kirk, a white Christian male, very deeply. The other group neglects this death and turns its full face to the children of Evergreen High School. These two groups, in a peculiar way, do not mourn for each other’s figures or events, creating a hierarchy in which humans are valued more.
The hierarchy has expanded beyond what was seen before, especially with the shooting of Kirk. The husband and father of two hosted “The Charlie Kirk Show.” This is a podcast that covers a spectrum of political topics, often used to debunk the truth of what is happening in America. Although Kirk never held a political office, his death had an impact as one. With this public given status, as well as a large Catholic following, he has become an American martyr.
This type of attention can cast a shadow over other shootings, as it has with the Evergreen High School shooting, which occurred on the same day. When asking peers about their thoughts on the shooting, the instant response was regarding Charlie Kirk. When asked a second time, many Union students did not know there were two acts of gun violence.
No matter who is the victim of gun violence, they are all impacted by the same weapon. With these recent events, there’s been prominent media coverage of one side rather than the other.
Two shootings happened; one shooting set the American flag to half-staff. The other shooting has become a habit in this country to grow unnoticed. Yes, he was a father. In school shootings, fathers lose their children. In both events, gun violence took lives.
So what do we do? Stripping away all guns from American citizens is not an option, especially in hopes of exercising the privilege of the Second Amendment. Written in the Bill of Rights from 1791, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” This amendment was added due to the fears that a federal army could overtake the people, as our founding Americans were battered by British attempts to seize back weapons.
The right to own a weapon correlates directly with the privilege to defend oneself; the amendment does not encourage harming thy neighbors.
Growing up in a small farm town, I held no fear when hearing about my family members owning guns or neighbors who practiced hunting, or just to exercise their right. However, those who now obtain firearms expand beyond an old relative who hangs a deer twice a year in their garage. The ease of gaining arms has placed them in the hands of too many unqualified or possibly dangerous individuals.
When a background check is added to purchasing firearms, there is no threat to one’s rights. Background checks are everywhere in life. These ensure the safety of its employees, family, and country. If one has knowledge of an applicant with criminal records, jail time, institutionalized time for mental health, domestic violence, murder, stalking, battery, and the list goes on, should they be able to purchase a gun? Or if someone has a Driving Under the Influence charge on their record, should they be given an active driver’s license? No.
The question above ties directly to the phrase “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.’’ When thinking about cars, the idea of killing machines does not instantly appear. This is because not every unqualified person has access to a license, allowing them to serve its original purpose. Some illegal driving activities can slip through the cracks; however, there are no cracks to slip through when purchasing a gun. The path to gun ownership is like a flowing river — it’s too easy.
Unlike vehicles, firearms do not have a different original purpose than being a weapon. This should increase incentives to create regulations; however, that has not been the case yet in America.
Ensuring background checks continue to allow all Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights, while drastically reducing gun violence. In addition, strict gun safety precautions in homes, especially those with children or teens, can allow those with a gun permit to handle the weapon. Having precautions as written law, in place beyond the purchase of the weapon, heightens safety in schools, homes, and for children with access to parental firearms. My grandfather had a gun safe; I did not know the code, and for this, I was thankful.
This is not a restriction to the Second Amendment; it is how we maintain our liberty.
Americans are allowed to bear arms to respond to unusual attacks or threats. The keyword is unusual. However, there is nothing unusual about gun violence being present in the daily lives of Americans. It has become a routine announcement in the nightly news, similar to the weather forecast. As mentioned before, there have been 47 school shootings in the United States from January 1, 2025, to Sep 10, 2025. Dissecting this number, 24 were on college campuses and 23 were on K-12 school grounds. These 47 shootings have left 17 Americans dead and at least 77 injured victims of gun violence. With some quick math, there are 5.22 shootings per month in America this year.
Regarding political violence, there have been three major incidents this year. On April 13, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, alongside his wife, four children, and two dogs, was forced to evacuate after someone threw a Molotov cocktail into the governor’s home. On June 14, Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot. On September 10, the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk took place on a Utah college campus.
This is not normal, nor should it be normalized.
In the current state of the country, Americans can not continue practicing this selective empathy. The heart that no longer beats is a life gone, not a party affiliation. This is not a left or right issue, especially in this American era that does not need more pointing fingers. False and public accusations will not bring back those who have been impacted by gun violence, nor will they keep those safe in the future.
All political affiliations, religions, races, sexual orientations, ages, and more varying human distinctions have been impacted by gun violence. Gun violence does not pause for anyone. The time to make a change has arrived, and it is knocking on each of our doors. Finding common ground, catering to both regulatory laws and exercising the Second Amendment, is possible.
There can always be thoughts and prayers, but not without policy and change.
Names of Children Killed by Gun Violence in 2025
Antonio Kamani Burgess II, Olivia Brooks, Kh’aden Johnson, N/A, Liliana Morgan, Emouri Woodard, N/A, N/A, Julian Guzman, N/A, Bles‚Äôsyn Lightner, Kimana Sharieff, Fletcher Alexander Merkel, Harper Lillian Moyski, Demeir Douglas, Ryliee Watson, N/A, Josiah Divodi-Lessa, Bryson Murray, Alex Reese, Ryan Long, Parker Long, N/A, Gionni Jackson, Kinsley Smith, Astrid Fung, Nora Behee, Grayson Behee, Trenton Behee, Pranish Pradhan, N/A, Cyprien Argueta Romero, Josiah Williams, Adonis Kane Tucker, Alonzo Mallett III, N/A, Zymir Demarco Smith, N/A, Rylee Love, Daniel Casares, Jeremiah George, Alexia Garcia, N/A, Harmony Anderson, Kylen Powell, N/A, Ralph Taylor III, N/A, Kenari Windom, Honesty Cheadle, Jianna Jones, Elizibeth Feaster, Samir Grubbs, Lavinia Lowe, Amir Lamar Atkins, N/A, Kamarii Patterson, Javarius Bickett, Anderson Garcia, N/A, N/A, Dior Scott, Kinsley Prinsen, N/A, Jayvinvontae Keion-Ray Carter, N/A, N/A, Evangelina Velasquez, Layla Ramos, N/A, N/A, Logan Shippy, N/A, Emily Grace Mayo, Samuel Aurther Moore, Zameria Jones, Jordan Neal, N/A, Jasper Smith, Jesus Valladares, Leelani Brooks, Heidi Idunn Olson-Hartley, Stellan Olson-Hartley, Blake Byrne, Hunter Hatch, Elijah Rodriguez, Marshaun Futrell Jr, Adalynn Mae Sadler, N/A, Micah Comegys, King Edmonds, N/A, Brite Shalom Acoy, N/A, N/A, Jaden Mosley, Ashley McFarland, Keilub Paul, Jayce Davis, Ta-Kirus Davon Jones, Jamarion Payne, Jrako Castillo, N/A, N/A, Leon Garcia, Jayden Howell, N/A, Daquell “King” Collins, N/A, Keldrick Duncan, Samantha Samarel, Eli Ronan Fox Painter, Emery McKenzie, Nova McKenzie, Xion Solomon, Mianna Roach, N/A, Josiah Hooker, Jeremiah Huff, Stacey Glasgow, Davion Gunter, Colin, N/A, Lokia Jay Lee Walking Eagle, R‚Äômani Sibley, Avah Gracelynn Bullock, N/A, Ophelia Daniels, N/A, Chosen Morris, Aurorah Payne, Ava Payne, Alayna Payne, N/A, Jainadia Little, Brailey Blackmer, Brooke Harshman, Jordan Harshman, Olivia Blackmer, N/A, Darnell “DJ” Wicks, Peyton Brielle Roberts, Kaden Coleman, N/A, Emani King, Ermais King, N/A, N/A, Yasin Morrison, Aubreeyonna Muex, Jeriko Logue Luna, E’vaa Mikel Sewell, N/A, Breon Allen, Evelyn Swarner, Connor Swarner, N/A, Rosalie Martin, N/A, Michael Meagher, N/A, Amy Bohne, N/A, Major Smith, Anne Mancuso, Felix Arruda, Adele Arruda, Charlotte Hatcher, Jeffery Hatcher, Yanelis Munuguia.
All children are 0-11 years old. Names, incident dates, state, and gender can be found at gunviolencearchive.org
