Near the end of their first period on Nov. 14, 2019, students in the courtyard at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, watched in fear as a 16-year-old high school student pulled a gun and opened fire, killing two students and injuring another two. The weapon was later determined to be a “ghost gun.”

Despite what many politicians say, the states are capable of and should be reducing the amount of gun violence through gun restrictions like a ban on ghost guns, an 80% completed gun with the parts to put together the rest.

This ban on ghost guns can prevent people from purchasing firearms without any background check and stop several shootings similar to those that have happened in the past such as the Saugus High School shooting. This approach is likely the most effective as it prevents the ability for any person alive to possess a firearm.

Putting a ban on ghost guns could stop the rising numbers of ghost guns being accumulated and shootings with one. In Philadelphia, 250 ghost guns were recovered in 2020, a significant change from the 99 recovered in 2019.

As of 2020, 19,384 people have died from gun violence, even with background check restrictions and age restrictions put in place in almost every state. With ghost guns giving anyone access to firearms, that number could increase drastically, especially considering their growing popularity.

Together, it is possible to help prevent the roughly 500 people who die every day due to gun violence. Now is the time to act — petition for these restrictions and speak up for those who lost their lives.