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CURBING GUN VIOLENCE TAKES MORE THAN JUST GUN LAWS  
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Elizabeth Reed
October 27, 2025
The Progressive
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_ Our nation’s prioritization of personal rights over the common
good is not only a major barrier to gun law reform—it is the very
soil in which America’s epidemic of violence grows. _

No to Guns, Maria Lynsenko / Unsplash

 

Every morning as I bring my daughter to school, I worry for her
safety. Like many parents, I would do anything to protect her. Yet the
fact is that gun violence in the United States is not an avoidable
problem—it is woven into our daily lives, a constant source of
stress and vigilance.

Just a few weeks ago, my six-year-old daughter came home and told me
about the lockdown drill they had that day at school. Six-year-olds,
and kids of all ages, are now living with the fear of getting shot at
school. And parents like me are not just concerned. We’re
heartbroken, shaken, and infuriated that this has become our reality.
This year alone, through mid-October, more than 1,000 children in the
United States lost their lives due to gun violence
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more than 2,660 were injured.

Understandably, many Americans—a majority in fact—support
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restrictive gun laws. I agree. A store that sells firearms is only
three minutes from my home. In many states, purchasing a
firearm—including assault-style weapons
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for rapid firing—can be almost as easy as picking up a gallon of
milk.

However, after spending more than three decades working in violence
prevention and public health, I have learned that while more
restrictive laws are needed, the problem goes beyond access to guns.
Indeed, our nation’s prioritization of personal rights over the
common good is not only a major barrier to gun law reform, it is the
very soil in which America’s epidemic of violence grows.

Other countries with similar wealth and democracies, including
Australia, Canada, Japan, and most European countries,
have dramatically lower
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gun violence than the United States. They have stricter gun laws,
it’s true, but that is only part of the story. These countries have
also chosen to invest in their communities, building
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social safety nets and enacting policies that value the collective
good.

In contrast, the United States was founded on ideals of individualism
and personal rights, which continue to define the nation’s identity.
When individualism is prioritized over our collective well-being,
investment in our communities suffers: Our health outcomes worsen,
social supports weaken, and disparities widen. Together, these
conditions—combined with easy access to lethal weapons—create
fertile ground for gun violence.

Our government was founded to protect both individual liberties and
the common good. The Constitution was designed to prevent tyranny, not
to elevate individual rights above ensuring the safety and dignity of
one another.

Real change comes from strengthening the communities that connect us.
When we invest in policies that help everyone thrive—improving
access to education, affordable housing, healthcare, family support,
stable jobs, and food security—we create communities where people
feel valued, connected, and hopeful. 

Research consistently shows
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people have pathways to financial stability and hope for the future,
and when economic and social disparities are reduced
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Yet recent funding cuts to programs that support families
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training
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development
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this progress. Renewing, expanding, and strengthening these
investments is essential to building safer and more resilient
communities.

Notably, these kinds of investments don’t just make us safer; they
improve health, extend life expectancy, and strengthen quality of life
for all Americans. They are the foundation for a society where
children can go to school each day feeling safe and excited about
their futures.

If we want our communities to be safe and thrive, we must invest in
them just like we would invest in our own children. After all, our
children’s safety and future depend on it.

_This column was produced for __Progressive Perspectives_
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magazine, and distributed by Tribune News Service._

_Elizabeth Reed_ [[link removed]]_, a
professor of global health at San Diego State University, conducts
research on preventing violence and its harmful effects on health. _

_The Progressive_ [[link removed]]_ is a voice for peace,
social justice, and the common good. Since 1909, The Progressive
magazine has aimed to amplify voices of dissent and voices
under-represented in the mainstream, with a goal of championing
grassroots progressive politics. __Subscribe_
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journalism._ 

 

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