School shootings. We hear about them constantly as they happen far too frequently. However, some of the data is misleading, and many people are more worried than they should be. There have been 205 school shootings recorded in 2025 so far, according to K-12 School Shooting. This sounds alarming, but the reality is, this data includes any and all shootings at school. Gang-related shootings, shootings at sport games, shootings at after hour school events, fights that lead to shootings, suicides and accidental shootings at school or in its vicinity all are incorporated in this data. This may sound surprising, as when the term school shooting is mentioned, a certain image comes to mind. Usually we think of a single person coming into the school and taking innocent lives, which is why this number is initially so concerning. The truth is though, you are 4,700 times more likely to be in a car crash than a school shooting, according to the American College of Surgeons and Injury Facts. 

This raises the question: are gun laws in the country sufficient? No, of course not. Gun violence is still prevalent in the United States and needs to be reduced significantly. Obtaining firearms is unfortunately very easy and there is little restriction to who can own weapons. In California, it is legal to buy certain firearms at 18 with a specific license, and 21 for others, such as handguns. The restrictions to buy a firearm include passing a background check, obtaining a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) and giving proof of residency. The FSC may sound serious, but in reality, it is simply a 30-question multiple-choice paper test with a minimum passing score of 75%, and can be retaken once a day. It remains valid for five years, and is the only test that needs to be passed in order to legally own a firearm.

Once a firearm is purchased, the processing period is between 24 hours to 10 days or more. This can be problematic because it is not long enough, especially when people are heated and may act irrationally if not given enough time to manage their anger and rethink their choices. 

Although there is no definite fix or guaranteed prevention for gun incidents in the U.S., implementing stricter laws on what guns can be owned and who can get them should be enforced. Owning a gun should not be taken so lightly. It should be treated more seriously than driving a car. For those under 18 years old, acquiring a driver’s license requires a written test, driving lessons, six months of driving accompanied and a driving test. Over the age of 18, obtaining a driver’s license still requires a physical driving test to be passed with an evaluator, with rules that must be followed and studied prior. For guns, a class and stricter test should be required, along with a restriction on what guns can be owned. For example, when attempting to purchase a gun, someone should have a minimum amount of time in the classroom learning, being evaluated mentally and taking a test regularly to validate a proper gun license. Additionally, it should be harder to purchase a gun at a younger age since young people’s brains are still developing and are more likely to act irrationally. There should be more restrictions on the types of guns they can own and the amount of learning they require.

The risks of school shootings and gun violence in the U.S. may sometimes be blown out of proportion, but gun violence is still a problem that can be reduced by taking more serious measures.