Gun violence, among many others, is an increasingly prominent social justice issue we face now and in the future. The repeated offenses and assaults with weapons and firearms have become almost incomprehensible. In fact, it is proved that every day, on average, 316 people in America are shot in murders, assaults, suicides and suicide attempts, unintentional shootings, and police intervention. The Washington Post reads, “Gun violence is a public health crisis, and children are suffering. No child should have to wake up to the terror of gun violence.” When we consider how gun abuse affects mankind, we must think not about shooting victims and their loved ones, but also about the many children who have grown or are growing up listening to gunshots at night, bearing witness to neighborhood violence, and seeing newly empty seats in the classroom. These exposures are proven to have long-term negative effects on children’s mental health. This can cause increased rates of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and are also more likely to become withdrawn or irrationally irritable (Vasan and South).

There are moments in world history when social justice issues push their way to the forefront of our global and societal conscience. The coronavirus, for example, has uncovered and intensified social inequities, prominently in the United States. “Social justice plays a role in nearly every critical problem we face, from the climate emergency and voter suppression to gun violence and widening the income gap.” In order to prevent these inequalities and advance in the social world, we can educate our peers on why or what can be done using a few simple prompts (KU Staff).