Gun violence and control have been prevalent issues in the United States for years. With mass shootings from as early as Columbine to as recent as Evergreen, accompanied by various debates from both sides of the political spectrum over managing firearms, there never seemed to be a solid solution. But, recently, something changed that has had everyone on edge.

On Sep. 10, Conservative media personality and author Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University while performing a campaign tour for his organization, Turning Point USA. In the era of cellphones as a near-constant presence, the shooting was recorded from several angles and quickly went viral across social media.

The United States has consistently recorded higher rates of gun death than any other nation, according to a study at Johns Hopkins University. They found that in 2023, 46,728 people, the third-highest on record, died from guns in the U.S., 27,300 being suicides. Despite the number’s size, the debate over gun control remains divided. While there are certain stopgaps in place, gun rights advocates have cited the Second Amendment in arguing that gun ownership is an essential part of personal security, even going as far as to sue the U.S. Appeals Court over recently upholding New Jersey gun restrictions. 

“As we look through our history, a pattern emerges: our Nation has permitted restriction of firearms in discrete locations set aside for particular civic functions and where the presence of firearms was historically regulated as jeopardizing the peace or posing a physical danger to others,” U.S. Circuit Judge Cheryl Ann Krause wrote. 

While the debates rage on, various schools, including Moravian, have taken it upon themselves to reassure communities in the face of any potential threats. 

When questioned, Greg Meyer, Dean of Community Wellness, had this to comment:

“Moravian University stands unequivocally against violence of any kind. The safety of our community and its members is always our top priority. Students, faculty, and staff who have safety concerns should contact Campus Police or submit a SHARE report so that emergency response professionals and the threat assessment team can be activated as necessary.”

As the nation tries to move forward from the latest tragedy, at least one thing is clear — the debate is far from over.