University of Wisconsin–Madison researcher and assistant professor Nick Buttrick explains that gun ownership was first normalized around the time of the Civil War as many Southern farmers had fears regarding the social and racial changes being made in the US. He goes on to say, “During the rest of the 19th century, those anxieties metamorphosed into a fetishization of the firearm to the point that, in the present day, gun owners view their weapons as adding meaning and a sense of purpose to their lives.” In todays society many Americans see gun ownership as a divine right and often quote the 2nd Amendment which says all US citizens have the right to bear arms. However, some scholars argue the writers of the constitution wrote this as a collective right, not an individual. The Cornell School of Law explains, “A collective rights theory of the Second Amendment asserts that citizens do not have an individual right to possess guns and that local, state, and federal legislative bodies therefore possess the authority to regulate firearms without implicating a constitutional right.”

Government Officials and Government branches do not remain blameless in regard to social structures dismissing Gun Control. For years laws restricting Gun Control have failed, often due to a lack of Republican votes. These Bills asked for compromise, not an entire ban on automatic firearms. Many Bills, such as the ones after the Sandy Hook Shooting or the Pulse Nightclub shooting, proposed that background checks and stricter buyer requirements were necessary to create more safety within the whole country. The majority of these Bills were not passed.

However, President Biden has recently signed a Bill making gun purchases stricter for those ages 18-21. This Bill also includes millions of dollars for mental health resources, school safety additions, and intervention programs for those showing concerning behavior. President Biden says, ”God willing, it’s going to save a lot of lives.”