Racing thoughts of the nearest classroom or exit, rapid fingers texting loved ones and the silent, fearful sobs of many are just a few results of lax laws. In America, massive shootings are devastating, yet are nearly ignored by the law. Many states ban other “issues.” It is almost ironic how they speak on these bannings, yet they never shed light on the countless lives lost due to a firearm. 

Many states have been putting the human rights of many under fire, stating that it is protecting the children. However, they are ignorant to the true issue: guns. A hot topic for the past few months has been the bannings of public drag shows where children are involved. As many drag queens enjoyed reading children’s books for little ones, they can now be charged as a felon. Since the beginning of this year, at least 32 bills have been filed in Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia targeting drag performances, with more on the way. 

In addition, one state has actually made guns easier for someone who is deemed as dangerous to keep. Multiple states within the United States (US) have a Red Flag Law, which states that police and, or family members may be able to petition one’s possession of a firearm if that person seems dangerous, to themselves, or to others. Oklahoma senator Nathan Dahm argued against this law and passed his “Anti-Red Flag” bill. 

When interviewed by Fox News, Dahm stated, “the Second Amendment says the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,” Dahm said. “If the federal government tries to infringe on that right, we have a duty and obligation in Oklahoma to uphold the constitution first.”

Within an interview, from the television show “The Problem with Jon Stewart,” Stewart interviews Dahm. Within the interview, Stewart outright states that Dahm does care about these children, on top of their protection. 

Countless times in the interview with Stewart, viewers could see the hypocrisy flowing out of Dahm’s mouth, as he stated that bannings of drag shows ensure the protection of children. 

“Because the government does have a responsibility to protect children,” Dahm said. Immediately after, Stewart snaps back with, “What’s the leading cause of death amongst children in this country?” Stewart asked Dahm. “And I’m gonna give you a hint, it’s not drag shows reading to children – so what is it?” Shortly after, Stewart does in fact state that the leading cause of children is firearms. 

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non profit that specializes in national health issues, guns became the leading cause of death of  children in 2022, and that other countries do not have this issue. 

“In each of the peer countries, guns kill fewer children than motor vehicles, cancer, congenital diseases, and other injuries, and often behind other conditions such as heart disease. The U.S. is the only country among its peers that has seen a substantial increase in the rate of child firearm deaths in the last two decades (42%).”

Gun safety laws do not interfere with the Second Amendment, and on top of that, the Second Amendment does not guarantee the right to own a gun. According to the US Department of Justice, they state, “Former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Warren Burger argues that the sale, purchase, and use of guns should be regulated just as automobiles and boats are regulated; such regulations would not violate the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.” Although the second amendment is very important, so are the lives of countless people who did not deserve to die at the hands of a “bad apple.”