4A - Forming an Opportunity Belief

            Our country has a mental health problem, which has resulted in deadly shootings. These shootings are too frequent and should not be existing at all. There is an opportunity to prevent these shootings from occurring. The citizens of the United States are in need of this prevention. This problem has always existed. The Bill of Rights states that one has the right to keep and bear arms in the Second Amendment and many are dependent on it.

Shootings are a huge issue within the country and many are trying to meet this need to prevent them. For example, there is a “Red Flag” law, which is established in fourteen states. The red flag law allows courts to issue orders for confiscating guns from those who are a threat to people. These orders must be backed up by evidence on how someone in particular is a threat to their safety. In addition, there is a debate on banning assault weapons. Lawmakers have put the renewal of the 1994 ban on military-style assault weapons in order to address the crisis. The 1994 ban expired in 2004. There was an introduction to a full ban on assault weapons in January; however, neither the House nor the Senate has voted on it. Currently, federal law requires background checks for those who decide to buy a gun from licensed dealers. If the background check results as unclear, the time period may be extended to three days; however, those with state or federal permits do not have to comply with the waiting period. There are attempts to extend the maximum background check period to ten days and to expand the system to private scales. Background checks are a crucial step to prevent those with mental illnesses from getting a hold of weapons.

Interview 1:

Who: Neighbor from back home, 26 year-old female

When did you become aware of this need?

“People become aware of this need as more shootings occur. When a shooting is reported on the news, which is frequent, there is a stronger sense of this need to prevent them from happening.”

When did you realize that this was a huge problem at hand?

“Ever since the Columbine High School shooting, I knew that action needed to take place.”

How are you trying to address this need for our nation’s safety?

“I am currently addressing this need by voting for the right people in office, in order to get this opportunity into action.”

How satisfied are you with the action toward this issue?

“I am not satisfied with this solution because I am only one voice and in order to seize this opportunity, everybody’s voice on this must be heard as well.”

Interview 2:

Who: UF Student, 19 year-old male

When did you become aware of this need?

“I always knew that this was a problem, but it has increasingly become worse as time goes by.”

When did you realize that this was a huge problem at hand?

“The Stoneman Douglas High School shooting is when it hit me the hardest because I was mutual friends with a few of the innocent victims.”

How are you trying to address this need for our nation’s safety?

“I have marched for gun control and for those who have lost their lives from shootings. The biggest difference I can make is to get my voice heard and to vote for the right actions toward this problem.”

How satisfied are you with the action toward this issue?

“No. This must be addressed and nobody needs an assault rifle, especially people who do not have all of their marbles.”

Interview 3:

Who: 56 year-old male

When did you become aware of this need?

“Shootings have increased tremendously over the years. As these shootings have become more frequent, I have had an increasing sense of worry about being shot while I am at the movies or in any public building.”

When did you realize that this was a huge problem at hand?

“I believe that people have the right to bear arms, especially for self-defense. However, nobody needs an AR-15. People will still find a way to get their hands on these automatic rifles and use them.”

How are you trying to address this need for our nation’s safety?

“I am striving to elect those in office who act toward strengthened background checks and to make it harder for those with mental illnesses and a criminal background to get a hold of weapons.”

How satisfied are you with the action toward this issue?

“I will not be satisfied until real action comes into play. Shooting are recurring more often and it must come to a stop.”

Reflection and Summarization

The most surprising thing that I have learned from this opportunity is that it has not been completely addressed yet. Shootings are becoming more and more frequent as time goes by, and nothing big has taken place in order to address the gun crisis. People who implement these shootings are mental, and they must be prevented from getting their hands on weapons. The original opportunity is still there and still has potential. This opportunity that I have addressed has stayed stagnant. Entrepreneurs should ‘adapt’ their opportunities based on customer feedback to a certain extent. Customer feedback is crucial because customers must be satisfied, but it is almost impossible to keep everybody content. In this situation, not everybody in our country wants any gun control, while others do. Things are never in black and white; entrepreneurs must do what is best for seizing their opportunity and reaching end goal.