The shooting at Brown University is a tragedy. Innocent lives were lost, families were shattered, and an entire campus was left traumatized. Any serious conversation must begin there, with empathy, accountability, and a commitment to preventing violence.
But tragedy should not be exploited to advance policies that punish lawful citizens who had nothing to do with the crime.
Supporting the Second Amendment and supporting public safety are not opposing positions. A free society can, and must, do both.
Rights Come With Responsibility — and Due Process
The Second Amendment protects an individual right, affirmed by the Supreme Court. That right exists so that peaceful, law-abiding citizens are not dependent on the state for their personal safety.
At the same time, rights come with responsibility. People who demonstrate clear, documented threats of violence. Through due process, they should be stopped before they harm others. That means:
Enforcing existing laws
Acting on credible threats
Improving reporting and intervention systems
Ensuring law enforcement and institutions communicate effectively
It does not mean blanket bans, collective punishment, or disarming law-abiding citizens.
Focus on Failures, Not Fear
After nearly every high-profile shooting, we discover warning signs that were missed, ignored, or buried in bureaucracy. The failure is rarely due to a lack of laws; it stems from a failure of execution, accountability, and intervention.
We should be asking:
Were threats reported and acted upon?
Were existing legal tools used?
Were institutional failures ignored?
These questions save lives. Symbolic legislation does not.
Safety Without Sacrificing Liberty
Gun safety policies should be targeted, evidence-based, and constitutional. That includes:
Due-process-based intervention for credible threats
Secure storage, education, and responsibility
Better mental-health crisis response that doesn’t criminalize illness
Holding criminals accountable, not excusing violent behavior
What it should not include is eroding constitutional rights for millions of peaceful citizens because of the actions of a violent few.
Freedom and Safety Are Not Mutually Exclusive
We can mourn victims, support communities, and demand better prevention without abandoning constitutional principles.
The goal is not a disarmed public.
The goal is safer, achieved through responsibility, enforcement, and respect for liberty.
That balance matters, especially in moments like this.
