Apr 26, 2018 3 min read

For generations, the phrase, “gun control,” has split this country down the middle.

It’s a concept that many conservatives and even some liberals view as a leap toward tyranny by disarming citizens who may be suspicious of their government.

But with any policy debate, nuance matters. Unfortunately, it seems, any discussion related to guns gets drowned out by emotional cries from one side of the issue or the other.

Just last month, there were hundreds of “March For Our Lives” rallies across the country calling for Congress to pass some form of gun control law. At one of those rallies in Greensburg, an off-duty Rostraver Township police officer openly carried an unloaded assault weapon across the street as a silent way to protest that movement.

On Sunday, dozens of people carrying assault rifles gathered outside the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg to push back while also supporting that officer who is now under scrutiny by his department.

It’s unlikely people attending either rally will ever find common ground when it comes to the notion of regulating firearms.

But for the rest of us, there must be some compromise.

Gov. Tom Wolf is trying to bridge that divide with a commonsense plan to expand background checks on firearms to include private sales. Currently, background checks are required for handgun sales, except for transfers within families. But the gun show loophole, as it’s known, means the sale of shotguns or semi-automatic assault rifles between citizens do not fall under that rule.

Gun rights advocates claim background checks during private sales are burdensome and that criminals who intend to purchase firearms wouldn’t go through the proper checks anyway.

Still, that doesn’t mean we should do anything.

Wolf announced his legislation Monday while flanked by Pennsylvania State Police officials who are supporting his call for action.

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, a Republican from Centre County, told the Associated Press the Senate should look at “red-flag” areas to prevent high-risk individuals from getting guns. As part of that, expanding background checks are “an appropriate discussion to have at this point,” Corman said.

Even with Corman’s comments, it’s unlikely both the Republican-controlled House and Senate will even consider Wolf’s suggestion, especially in an election year. That’s a shame. If we can’t even discuss ideas related to gun control, how will we ever get past the partisan rhetoric associated with it?

Wolf’s proposal deserves a serious debate, even if it never moves out of committee.

Until we begin having conversations about guns, the seemingly monthly mass shootings at schools, shopping malls, restaurants, offices, concerts and every other public place will continue unabated.

At some point, we must decide whether senseless gun violence is just the coswt of living – and dying – in a free society. If not, we should find a way to stop it.