US and its gun laws

Just as the US was busily grappling with the recent spate of tragic events that put its gun laws in the spotlight, a 12 year old boy holding a toy gun was shot by police. The story went like this. The 12 year old boy went to the park with his friends on a Saturday afternoon, carrying a toy gun. The presence of the toy gun alarmed local residents who dialed 911 for the police who in turn rushed to the scene. The Cleveland police ordered the boy to put his hands up, but instead, he reached for his gun and the police fired two shots, one striking his torso. He died of his wounds in hospital. 

The local police argued that the toy gun did not have an orange safety indicator found in its muzzle, which is usually used to differentiate a fake gun from the real deal. Nonetheless, it still holds true that the two police officers involved in the shooting had failed to assess the situation well enough, but maybe they didn't have much time to do so.

In the first place, the fact that people dialed the police upon witnessing a 12 year old boy possessing a toy gun just revealed the paranoia instilled in US citizens. The recent gun incidents that have plagued the nation have only put their citizens on guard. Could this incident have been avoided? Could have the innocent 12 year old's life actually been spared?

Looking further, we start to question whether the United States gun laws have indeed failed its children, be it directly or indirectly. We see gun wielding maniacs breaking into schools opening fire indifferently on school kids. From the case of Sandy Hook Elementary School to the Florida State University incident, we see people who are actually mentally incapable of handling weapons possessing them. Has the US been too lenient on its gun laws? Why are citizens so easily able to land their hands on potentially life endangering tools? 

Some statistics. 40% of all US homes have guns with 1500 children hurt by guns every year. Some might say that it isn't the guns that are responsible for the country's ever increasing homicide rates. They it is the presence of violence depicted in video games and the media. This still remains debatable. After all, it isn't the US alone which sells violent video games. Other nations which have stricter laws on gun use also do.

That's besides the point. There is overwhelming evidence to support the the introduction of stricter gun laws, with more than 90% of US citizens supporting it. Yet, the gun laws in the United States have still yet to undergo a major overhaul. Why? Here's why. The fate of new gun laws are determined by the government, and more specifically the Senate. Some candidates know that voting for new gun laws could harm their prospects of winning an election in the state that they are running for. Particularly when the state is a gun loving one. Also, lawmakers are afraid of the possible uproar in the local gun community should stricter laws be pushed. And finally, the gun business is lucrative. With an estimated 6 billion dollars generated by the gun and ammunition industry in the US, it is hard for the US to just abandon this vital part of the economy. 

We do understand the governments' agenda when it comes to handling the gun crisis in US. Nonetheless how many more innocent lives taken away does the people have to suffer from before it will compel the government to take concrete and prompt action?

I have no say, but I think that the number of deaths resulting from guns this year alone is not insignificant for the government to turn a blind eye to.