Understanding the US gun violence crisis

The attempted assassination of former US president Donald Trump on July 14, along with the killing of bystander Corey Comperatore, has once again brought the discussion of gun violence in the US to the forefront.

Gun violence is an unavoidable reality in American society. As an American living overseas, I often find myself explaining the seemingly inexcusable behavior of my home country.

To outsiders, the solution seems simple: ban all, or at least the most dangerous, guns. However, it is difficult for them to see the existential crisis that comes with gun control for many Americans.

The issue is not as black and white as some would like to paint it.

The Second Amendment to the US Constitution reads, "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

This amendment was born from the inherent distrust that citizens in the then Thirteen Colonies had toward the centralized military power of the British militia. The experience of being a colony birthed a still ongoing struggle regarding just how much power the federal government should possess.

This is where one can find the origins of the conservative view on gun control. However, it's not just conservative pro-gun Americans who oppose gun control policies; many on the left also resist such measures due to concerns about state violence against minorities.

Slavery wasn't abolished in the US until 1865. For Black people and other minority groups, the right to bear arms provides an avenue through which they can protect themselves from institutions with a history rooted in racism and white supremacy.

These are the public perspectives that contribute to the partisan stalemate in America over gun violence issues. But one cannot discuss gun violence in America without also addressing the capitalist interests of the industry surrounding it.

While gun violence kills over 40,000 people each year, the gun industry in America enjoys around $9 billion in profits annually. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, gun sales hit record levels.

In 2022, the House Committee on Oversight investigated major gun manufacturers who, in the past decade, have made over $1 billion selling military-style assault weapons. At a hearing the committee held on July 27, 2022, the leaders of these corporations denied responsibility, despite acknowledging using underhanded marketing tactics, such as presenting guns as a way to prove "masculinity".

For gun makers, as is true for most, if not all, capitalist industries, profits will always come before people. There are powerful gun lobby groups, such as the famously anti-gun control National Rifle Association (NRA) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), that have invested millions of dollars into American politics to protect the interests of these manufacturers and prevent the passage of significant gun control policies.

My intention in presenting these perspectives is to show those outside of the US just how challenging the fight to end gun violence truly is.

For us Americans, it questions the very institutions upon which our country was built. It is a fight about identity, racism, and capitalism, and such a fight is rarely resolved quickly.

To be fair, steps have been taken, such as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act signed into law on June 25, 2022, strengthening background checks for firearm purchasers under 21. However, much more needs to be done. In a country where guns outnumber people (120.5 guns for every 100 residents), this task is daunting.

Gun violence in America will not be solved through one law; it requires systemic change and strengthened community ties. Americans need to reassess their history and who they are to come together and solve the problem of gun violence.

Written by Susan St. Denis, a 26-year-old American living in China, studying her second master's in Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy at Tsinghua University. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of North Florida and a master's in Chinese Studies from Florida International University.

Susan St. Denis