Personal Tragedy Fuels Call for Stricter Gun Control: The Views of Felipe Bustamante on Gun Violence

Urquijo, a small town in Magdalena, has seen guerrilla action since 1964. In 1973, 20 people lost their lives due to insurgent activity, including the aunt of Felipe Bustamante. Bustamante holds the view that gun laws should be improved to decrease gun violence, a perspective shared by many individuals and organizations worldwide.

“In my opinion United States is safer, since in Colombia there are a lot of deaths due to corrupt officials,” said Bustamante. 

Gun violence remains a persistent problem in various nations, with mass shootings and homicides occurring all too frequently. Advocates for stricter gun control laws propose measures such as background checks and waiting periods, or even bans on certain types of firearms, to prevent dangerous individuals from obtaining guns and to reduce the incidence of gun violence.

“No, because then there would be a lot of protests, but it’s better to remove firearms little by little, and replace them with tasers,”  said Felipe.

However, not all agree with these proposals. Some argue that such regulations infringe on their constitutional right to bear arms and that they are ineffective in reducing gun violence. Others argue that gun violence stems from deeper societal issues, such as poverty, inequality, and mental health problems, that must be addressed before gun control can be effective.

“Instead of taking away firearms, they should switch them, only allowing things like tasers,”  said Bustamante.

Bustamante suggests switching firearms for less lethal alternatives, such as tasers to reduce the death rate while preserving self-defense capabilities. Despite the divergent perspectives, it is clear that gun violence is a serious problem that requires attention and action. In addition to gun control measures, efforts to address the root causes of violence and to raise awareness of the risks of firearms are necessary to create a safer society for all.