With recent events that have happened in the United States, gun laws need to be revised to ban semi-automatic weapons for citizen use.

In early October, the United States had the biggest mass shooting in history when a gunman opened fire on a crowd at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada.  According to news reports, a man named Stephen Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Paddock, a 64-year-old resident of Nevada, killed about 59 people and injured about 546 people. Paddock died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

In Paddock’s hotel room was a large amount of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and 23 firearms. Paddock used guns like AR-15 and AR-10 pattern rifles.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives went to investigate all of the firearms that Paddock possessed and found that all of his equipment was legally purchased.

With the number of guns and ammunition, he should have at least been on a watch list or interviewed.

Another recent mass shooting occurred in June 2016 in Florida. Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old security guard, killed about 49 people and 58 injured at a nightclub. Mateen pledged himself to the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)

The most chilling part about this incident was that Mateen was on the Terrorist Screening Database prior to the shooting. At the time of the shooting, Mateen had permits for concealed carry permit and an armed security guard license. Mateen purchased a semi-automatic gun while on the Terrorist Screening List. A day before the shooting, he posted on his Facebook that he would get “vengeance” on the United States for bombing the Islamic State.

Even though Mateen was on the Terrorist Screening Database, he was still able to purchase and carry a concealed weapon legally. Although the government cannot stop everyone at once from buying guns while on the list, a “red flag” should have gone off when he threatened revenge in person and then on Facebook.  He should have been investigated.

The benefits of having a small hand gun  or shot gun would be to protect self, family, and property, or for hunting for food or sport, but the production of semi-automatic guns should be limited to law enforcement and the military.

Although carrying a concealed weapon can be a good and safe thing, why should we sell guns made for killing in mass quantities? Currently, gun laws are way too relaxed.  Semi-automatic guns should not be sold when we have perfectly fine ones for recreation or protection already. Gun laws need to be revised so we can all live more safely.