Mass shootings spark debate over ‘gun responsibility’ vs. ‘gun control.’ Here’s the difference

Devarrick Turner, Knoxville News Sentinel
·3 min read
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Demonstrators hold a sign reading "We Can End Gun Violence" at a demonstration against gun violence on the corner of Kingston Pike and Morrell Road in Knoxville on May 27, 2022. Demonstrators from Moms Demand Action and members of the community rallied to speak out against gun violence following the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting.

There have been at least 246 mass shootings in the United States this year, including one at an elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 students and two teachers dead, and at a nightclub shooting in Chattanooga that injured 14 and claimed the lives of three.

The string of mass shootings have reignited the debate over how to stop future attacks. Safety advocates are split on the best ways to reduce gun violence, but have presented ideas like raising age minimums and sales restrictions on certain types of guns or amounts of ammunition.

Opponents believe strict gun laws infringe upon their Second Amendment right to bear arms. Some Second Amendment supporters — like actor Matthew McConaughey, whose hometown is Uvalde — are now using the term gun responsibility instead of gun control.

While there are differences between the two approaches, there are some similarities, too.

What does 'gun responsibility' mean?

Those who support gun responsibility aim to end gun violence by promoting “a culture of gun ownership that balances rights with responsibilities,” according to the Washington state-based nonprofit Alliance for Gun Responsibility.

This is done through measured gun safety education and policy changes such as:

  • Mandatory background checks for gun purchases, including at private sales and gun shows, which current federal law does not require.

  • “Red flag” laws that temporarily seize firearms from individuals who have been may be a danger to themselves or others. These must be court-ordered and due process must be applied to assess the individual and the alleged threat.

  • Implement a national waiting period for assault rifles purchases.

  • Raise the age limit to buy AR-15 rifles (gun often used in mass shootings) from 18 to 21.

  • Treat gun violence as a public and mental health crisis to implement intervention measures.

  • Laws that require safe storing protocols and safety training to increase responsible gun ownership.

What does gun control mean?

The term gun control is a broader one than that.

It covers restrictions and limitations on the types of firearms that can be purchased, who can buy them, when and how they can be stored, carried and used. Gun control measures tend to detail the responsibilities placed on gun sellers, too.

In general, gun control measures include:

  • Mandatory and expanded background checks through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for all gun sales, including private sales, gun show purchases and firearms bought online.

  • Banning assault weapons (like the AR-15) and high-capacity magazines and reinstating the Federal Assault Weapons Ban which was in place from 1994-2004.

  • Red flag laws that temporarily seize firearms from individuals who may be a danger to themselves or others until the claim has been investigated and reviewed.

  • Raise age to purchase semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21.

  • Closing loopholes and gaps in existing laws, such as private sales without background checks and allowing purchase after three business days even if a background check is incomplete.

  • Repeal of the law that protects gun manufacturers from legal liability if their weapons are used in acts of violence.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Gun control vs. gun responsibility: Here's the difference