On Monday afternoon, a mass shooting took place at The Covenant School in Nashville that left at least six people dead. The police reported that the attacker came carrying a handgun and two assault-type rifles, which he used against the students and adults at the school. This incident highlights the challenges faced by lawmakers in Tennessee, who have been trying to make it almost effortless to own firearms. The state already has lenient gun laws, such as no waiting period, no gun registration, and no licensing required, except for concealed carry. Reportedly, Tennessee Republicans have been trying to eliminate any remaining gun restrictions, such as expanding access to guns for teens and fighting against the permit requirements for carrying concealed firearms.

The rhetoric surrounding gun ownership in Tennessee keeps advocating for easy access with the argument that gun ownership is a constitutional right. However, the increasing number of mass shootings is questioning this right. The Nashville School Shooting is the 129th mass shooting in the United States in 2023, indicating an ongoing terrible trend. Lawmakers should look into gun restrictions and permit required to make it harder for guns to fall into the wrong hands, and perhaps such incidents will prevent the tragedy that occurred at The Covenant School.