Since the awful attack in Las Vegas, conversation and debate regarding gun control has been on everyone’s minds. Celebrities and everyday citizens alike have been sharing ways to reform gun laws in hopes of making an impact. This is a common practice whenever a mass shooting occurs. Everyone thinks the answer is to make guns and weapons more difficult to obtain, but that’s only part of solving the problem.

As a society, we are rather reactionary when it comes to gun violence. While there are those constantly fighting for change and reform, it can be easy to forget the terrors when things seem okay. While it might just be me, I don’t personally think constantly about all the gun-related violence and mass murders that have taken place. I am busy living my life, worrying about classes, my family and my own health. When these terrible incidents do occur, we are suddenly reminded of how cruel and confusing our country can be. You notice it everywhere you look: discussions in class, an influx of Facebook posts and other reminders on social media.

It’s extremely unlikely the second amendment will be done away with any time soon, but obviously a change needs to occur. According to the NRA, permits are not required to carry rifles and shotguns in the state of Nevada. They are only required for handguns. While I am a supporter of the second amendment, and I don’t think this could have been completely prevented, it could have been harder for this terrorist to carry out his attack if he had had to register his firearm.

As much as I would like to avoid talking about Trump most of the time, back in January he did say, “The guns don’t pull the trigger, it’s the people that pull the trigger,” according to NBC News. I can’t help but agree with this argument.

Guns could be made less readily available, but without eliminating all guns, there will still be gun-related violence. There will still be trigger-happy police officers and mental illness that causes terrorists to be born out of men and women. Extremism will continue to exist, across all races, cultures and beliefs. I believe there will always be evil, hurt and misunderstood individuals who choose to do the unthinkable. While I can hope, I’m not sure we can ever completely stop people like that.

There will always be people who can’t fight the urge to pull the trigger. When someone like that – terrorist, murderer, whatever term you prefer – wants to accomplish something, they won’t let anything get in their way. They will try their hardest to cause the most terror and destruction they can. When the United States seems like a battlefield for gun-related violence to grow and fester, how can we start to change our society?

If you’re a gun owner, take proactive safety measures. Invest in gun locks and safes. Keep your weapon away from your children, or any other children for that matter. It always hurts to hear stories about this, like earlier this year when nine-year-old Cameron Williams from Mississippi found a gun under his relative’s driver’s seat and accidently shot himself. Young Cameron later died from this avoidable accidental shooting.

In these dark times, it’s easy to feel anxious about the world around you. Remember to tell people how much they mean to you and try not to live in fear. Get involved, donate blood and supplies after tragedies and increase awareness. We can not only limit gun violence through reform, but through being kind humans. Take care of yourself and those around you. Be proactive with mental health and those who might display troubling signs of darker issues beneath the surface. We can work harder to create intelligent gun owners, an informed marketplace and healthier individuals in an attempt to stop violence before it happens.