In the previous month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott had reported, “the largest mass shooting in [Texas] history,” wherein Sutherland Springs, Texas, 26 people were fatally shot in a rural church.

   The gunman in Sutherland Springs was identified as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, from New Braunfels, Texas. On Kelley’s history, he had joined the military after graduating from New Braunfels High School in 2009. According to NBC News, a retired Air Force colonel said Kelley was convicted of fracturing his baby stepson’s skull and assaulting his first wife, Tessa. He was confined for a year, given a bad conduct discharge, and reduced in rank. NBC further reports that “the military failed to enter the domestic violence case into a database that would have made it illegal for him to buy a gun.”

   On Nov. 5, Kelley began firing around 11:20 a.m. outside of the church “wearing black tactical gear and a ballistics vest,” (NBC News) with an assault-type rifle and died after residents pursued and shot him in a car. Of 26 victims from Kelley’s rampage, 14 were children, according to Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt. The regional director of the State Department of Public Safety, Freeman Martin, also reports 20 injured victims.

   President Donald Trump’s has stated a controversial response to the shooting, concluding that, “…this isn’t a guns situation,” reports the Washington Post. For some student insight on the issue, sophomore Leilani Highland shares her views on gun control.

   “I get people’s concerns about [gun control]; having a gun gives you control over your only life and anything that happens to you so if someone were to attack you, you know you have that object to protect yourself. I think it’s sad that people need to know that they have to protect themselves and not that they can rely on people,” said Highland.

   Additionally, sophomore Lineli Cruz shares her opinions on possible solutions to mass shootings that could be installed.

   “I don’t think [the dominating political party] will do anything. I think if there is a new president after the one we have now maybe he will put some restrictions but I don’t think they will go on to that subject because they think a family needs time to heal before they bring up that subject. I don’t think the subject will come up unless everyone does something about it like protest,” said Cruz.

   With 317 mass shootings in 2017 alone and counting according to ABC News, many are left wondering what will be the last straw for legislators to finally input a solution to end the repetitive cycle of American gun-based tragedies.