Assessing the epidemic of gun violence
Amidst a rise of mass shootings, the U.S. faces a new public health epidemic, calling into question America’s current gun laws. // Photo courtesy of Olympus Imaging Corp.
On Monday, Feb. 13, a gunman opened fire at Michigan State University, leaving three students dead and five injured. In the wake of this tragedy, Hofstra University students and staff have come forward to comment on the threat of gun violence in the home of the Pride.
Mass shootings have become one of the greatest crises in the U.S.: an epidemic plaguing society, killing innocent people and fueling the flames of a political war on gun laws in America. According to Gun Violence Archive statistics, there have been a record 67 mass shootings in the United States in 2023 alone – more than the first two months of any other year since 2014.
According to Janet Dolgin, professor of health care law and science education, the reason why mass shootings have become so common today remains unclear. As it stands now, the issue of gun violence is a festering problem that will continue to grow unless approached on numerous fronts by a community of educated voices within society.
There is a “cultural anger,” according to Dolgin, which exists in America where society is desensitized to violence. Additionally, access to deadly firearms can exacerbate existing violent tendencies.
According to Alex M. Cutler, adjunct assistant professor of journalism, media studies and public relations, the mass shooting epidemic is a “product of our pioneer heritage ... there is a certain comfort level with firearms which is built into American society.”
This has evolved into a generational public health issue, where “Americans are infatuated with guns,” according to Cutler, and schools have quickly become a target of these patterns of violence.
The recent shootings have left Hofstra students like Amber Bianchi, a freshman journalism and criminology major, rattled and seeking better security measures from the university.
“This shouldn’t happen,” Bianchi said. “I think our school assumes we already know how to act in emergency situations, and they aren’t taking action to educate us.”
Referencing the “Emergency Protocols” signs posted on walls across campus, Bianchi said that she feels “like there should be better protections implemented so that kids here don’t have to worry about it.”
“You can never do enough with these kinds of things,” said Dakota White, a freshman marketing major.
Having had a personal connection to a Michigan State shooting survivor herself, White reflected on Hofstra’s protective protocols currently in place should such a horrific incident befall the campus.
“I think Hofstra is doing what they can,” White said. “You can always prepare for the worst but when it is actually happening ... you can never be prepared for something like that.”
