Over the past year, gun violence dramatically rose nationally. President Obama made several attempts to restrict the possession of guns but the effects had very little significance.

The controversy over gun control has been a hot topic for many years. Are guns the major issue and should be banned because it puts the public in danger? Some say yes, other disagree: Wouldn’t that go against the constitution’s second amendment?

Many say that allowing hand guns would be the exception because nothing more should be needed for self defense. Others think otherwise, arguing that it violates the second amendment and that a well regulated militia possessing pistols against the government isn’t a well regulated militia at all.

Some believe that the issue is much deeper, and that the problem has little-to-no involvement with guns, but with the individual possessing the gun. Regardless of the belief, the issue dragged itself from 2013 directly into the new year.

On January 14th, in New Mexico, a 12 year old student with a 20-gauge pump shotgun fired in Berrendo Middle School’s gym severely injuring two students. This shootnig made its way to national news and was the second middle school shooting in the past three months.

According to exports there isn’t too much to worry about. J. Peter Blair, an associate professor of criminal justice at Texas State University stated that “these incidents still remain relatively rare”, and that “for the most part, we’ll never directly experience one of them. It’s safer now than it’s been in a long time.”

A recent CNN article mentions that although violent crime increased to a little less than 1% nationally, the trend have been at a decline over the last two decades. Mass shootings have increased, from an average of 5 a year in 2009, to 15 in 2013. Places where incidents like these would least seem likely have recently become the centers of violent shootings.

Even locally, Albany has become increasingly more violent with numerous shootouts happening in the city. On January 18th, a shootout occurred on Washington Avenue, injuring a man who was immediately taken to Albany Medical Center. Just several days ago, another shooting took place downtown in Albany’s South End, injuring several. No witnesses arhave stepped forward to cooperate with police.

With all these shootings, it is clear that something needs to be done. Perhaps more regulation?  Tougher punishments for offenders?  But how much is enough before it’s considered a violation of our individual’s rights?

As Benjamin Franklin stated, “Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor deserve, either one.” How should regulation work? What do you think the United States should do? Let us know down below!