On February 15, 2025, a potential catastrophe was narrowly avoided. John Thomas Martin, a 23 year old in a small Texas town, Gun Barrel City, was found suspicious by customers at Walmart. Martin was apprehended by local authorities & was found to be in possession of a disturbing amount of weaponry. A Glock 10MM semi-auto handgun, three magazines, one extended magazine, 63 rounds, ear plugs, & wearing a ballistic vest. In June of 2022, Martin had been charged with a similar act, threatening a mass shooting. Despite the potential magnitude of his actions, he was merely charged with Terroristic Threat & Unlawful Carry of a Gun, crimes punishable by up to ten years in prison. Ten years is not a large enough sentence for an attempted crime of this magnitude! 

This story exposes a gaping hole in our nation's legal system. It is a hard truth that the United States has the 32nd highest rate of deaths from gun violence in the world (CDC, 2017). The lack of concrete legislation against individuals planning or attempting mass shooting incidents only serves to exacerbate this crisis.

We seek the creation of stringent laws, focused on individuals found to be attempting or planning any kind of mass massacre such as school, business, or public shooting. Penalties should be commensurate to the loss of life their actions could cause, and not less than those incurred by perpetrators after a mass shooting has taken place. 

Together, we can make our country safer while ensuring justice is adequately served for victims and potential victims of mass shootings. We implore lawmakers to recognize the severity and urgency of this issue and enact necessary reform. Sign the petition now to protect our communities and prevent future tragedies.