As we begin a new year, we are often asked to reflect on the year that has just passed. For most Americans, 2012 will be remembered as the year that the Mayans duped us all. However, in the pages of future history books, 2012 will belong to Adam Lanza and James Holmes: the men behind two of the most tragic mass-shootings to ever happen in the US. Both of these twisted individuals targeted innocent Americans in places they’d least expect it: a movie theatre and an elementary school.

Americans, as always, reacted to the tragedies by banning together and demanding action be taken and that justice be served. Some suggested that if teachers at Sandy Hook elementary had been provided with guns in the classroom, they could have defended themselves and their young students from Adam Lanza. Others believe that making guns more accessible and common will only lead to more violence.

As a response to the people’s cry, President Obama proposed putting an end to gun violence by making certain firearms and ammunition illegal. This proposal seems to please the part of the country that believes guns are the issue. On the other hand, it has some Americans up in arms, quite literally, who believe the right to bear arms is a constitutional right and, after last year, is an increasingly necessary form of self-defense.

This topic has been debated relentlessly for the past few weeks, and very little leeway has been made. I’m here to ease the minds of Americans on both sides of the argument. There’s no need to dispute the outcome of this potential ban because it will never happen. President Obama had to respond to the outrage of Americans after these devastating events, but he was naïve to even suggest the idea of a gun ban. A ban of this velocity would have to pass through both the House of Representatives (Republican controlled) and the Senate (Democratic controlled). It wouldn’t pass through the House of Representatives because we all know how Republicans feel about their firearms. Therefore, it would have to win the support of all Democrats, and a unanimous vote on a controversial topic such as gun control is highly unlikely.

President Obama recently signed 23 orders that didn’t require congressional approval that stiffen background checks when purchasing firearms and expand safety programs at schools. This was a more appropriate response to the issue than a gun ban, mostly because the individuals who commit these monstrous crimes aren’t law-abiding citizens. Most of them obtain their weapons illegally. Even CMU’s former student Mitch Kusick, who was plotting multiple shootings, one aiming to be the assassination of President Obama, stole his gun from his uncle.

If Americans truly want to end gun violence, then they need to take the matter into their own hands. Background checks should be stiffened, gun sales should be a careful process and owning a gun should come with the responsibility of keeping track of it. Guns should be locked in a safe where they aren’t available to people who are unstable or who don’t understand the grave responsibility that comes with the weapon. When you buy a gun, it’s in your name and it’s therefore your responsibility. If a bullet from that gun takes someone’s life, you, to an extent, must also be responsible, whether it was stolen or not.