Although guns are used to kill, they are also purchased and kept as an item that provides comfort and reassurance of individual safety. Civilians feel they need weapons to protect themselves and their homes and families. Wilkinson reports that “the percentage of Americans who believe that having a gun in the home makes them safer has doubled since 2000.” This is clear proof that the increase in mass shootings corresponds to an increase in firearms in the United States. One reason for this increase is that our society believes that the only way to protect yourself from gunshots is to own a gun. If our communities “did not feel so threatened by America's violent tendencies, they would be less likely to want to arm themselves in response” (Wilkinson). Basically, Wilkinson is saying that without controlling mass shootings, the number of guns in the United States will skyrocket. Relatedly, if guns were to be restricted, Americans would be deprived of their sense of security. Even if something needs to be done about the guns, taking them away is not the solution