Nurses Remain Divided on Gun Rights After Mass Shooting Leaves 19 Children Dead

The nation is in shock after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire on an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. The horrific tragedy left 21 people dead, including 19 young children and two adults. This is the second mass shooting in just 10 days. The conversation quickly turned to the issue of gun rights, but gun control remains a divisive issue in the U.S. Roughly half of Americans (53%) favor stricter gun laws, but this number has been declining in recent years.

Others responded to the tragedy by saying schools need tighter security, including single points of entry and armed teachers and staff.

We asked millions of providers from all over the world where they stand on gun rights, and they appear to be just as divided as the rest of the country.

The only thing that needs to be banned is evil in the hearts of humans.

Charlotte

How about we stop using a tragedy of CHILDREN to push this crap. Pray for those families and focus on what would cause a human to do something so evil.

Tim

Why do people say it’s not the guns, it’s the people? You ban the guns… no more shootings 🤷 it is pretty straight forward.

It’s like Americans care more about their guns than the safety of their kids.

Maili

Criminals will get guns one way or the other. This leaves law abiding citizens vulnerable if guns are banned or harder to get.

Debbie

Maybe we should look at better treatment for mental health. 🤷‍♀️ A person with obvious mental health issues killed those kids.

Cathy

You can’t do anything about guns. There’s too many. We need armed security at schools and to fix our mental healthcare system.

Travis

Oh wow. I’m an Australian nurse so I just popped in to see an American healthcare worker’s perspective. I was sure you would all be saying ban the guns. Guys, really??

Why do you hold onto guns so badly when you are watching children die at school en masse? America is not the lucky country to the rest of the world. We just can’t fathom it. Thoughts and prayers aren’t working. You guys need to change your mindset. Yesterday.

Kim

Banning guns does not stop criminals from obtaining them but takes protection away from law abiding citizens.

Stacie

It’s not about banning guns! If you’re a nurse, you know it’s a mental health thing!!

Gretchin

How there has not been any sort of gun regulation in the USA is beyond me. Your children deserve better. So many mass shootings over there and nothing happens.

Carina

The gun did not do it. The trigger was pulled by a sick kid and parents who allowed him to get the gun.

Mary

We had a school shooting in the U.K. We banned guns. We have never had a school shooting since. Gun crime is very rare. Us innocent civilians never need to be armed to protect ourselves because banning guns works.

Kelly

How about treating the bigger mental health crisis happening? Stop stigmatizing mental health and getting people the appropriate help they need. 🤷‍♀️

Ashley

No other country has this problem. We as Americans are selfish. We claim ‘our right’ to have all these damn guns. Then just offer thoughts and prayers when this happens. There is no reasonable need for the number of guns out there.

Rebecca

In Australia, we have not banned guns, but we do have gun control. People can own guns if they have a license, if they keep them in a gun safe, if they meet mental health requirements for said gun license. It doesn’t stop criminals from acquiring guns, but it stops kids from killing kids, it stops EASY accessibility to guns by the mentally ill, it stops kids from accidentally picking up their parent’s gun and shooting someone.

Australia isn’t perfect by any means, but since 1996, I have not woken up to a mass shooting by anyone let alone a child. So, keep your second amendment right, just put some regulations in place to protect your kids. It amazes me that your politicians can argue that some things are worth fighting tooth and nail to save but your living children aren’t.

Melanie

Sometimes the only way to stop a bad person with a gun is a good person with a gun.

Steven

Look at Australia, guys. We had one mass shooting many, many years ago. Illegal guns banned. None since. Our children are safe at school. How many more of these devastating events are there going to be? Yes, mental health has a massive influence with no easy fix there… but easy access to weapons just makes it simple. My heart aches for everyone involved… 🙏😒

Cathy

Criminals don’t follow the rules. We need mental health services and more funding for school counselors and school-based policemen. 🙁

De Ochoa

I will never be able to understand this way of thinking… “I need to have my gun, to be able to protect myself from other people with guns.”

How in the world does that even make sense?

(I live in Norway)

Lene

Aussie nurse here.  I’ve never had to treat a gunshot wound or had a patient with an old bullet injury. We require a license and then you’re fine to do some recreational shooting out on properties away from people. As far as protecting myself goes, I know it’s far more likely that any intruder will be unarmed or have a knife rather than a gun so they can say hello to my golf club. Unpopular opinion I know but banning it actually works.

Bee

There were no school shootings when I was 18 or any young age. So, what’s changed? Boys drove their trucks to high school with guns on their rack. NO ONE shot up the school. So, what’s changed? Discipline, faith, family. Prayers for the babies who lost their lives today! 🙏🙏🙏

Darlene

These responses have been edited for length and clarity.