Whenever there’s a shooting in America, left-leaning news outlets and politicians are usually quick to blame the guns instead of looking at the deeper reasons behind the violence. They talk about stricter background checks, expanded red flag laws, and increased government oversight of firearm ownership.
The real question we need to ask is: What’s driving so many people, especially young men, to turn to violence?
The truth is, America doesn’t have a gun problem – America has a problem with father-absent families. Until we address fatherless homes, no law or policy will put an end to the gun violence in our nation.
Guns have been in America since the beginning of this nation. Millions of Americans own guns for hunting, protection or sport. The overwhelming majority of legal gun owners are peaceful, law-abiding citizens.
In 2023, the United States saw approximately 47,000 gun-related deaths, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of data from the CDC, FBI, and other reliable sources.
Here’s what most people won’t tell you: 58% of those deaths were suicides. Only 38% were homicides (nearly 18,000 deaths). That means over 27,000 lives were lost to despair – not violence.
Major cities like Chicago, Detroit or Baltimore have some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Yet gun violence is a major concern in these areas. That tells us the problem is bigger than just guns.
Let’s look at the facts that few politicians want to address:
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1 out of every 4 children in America grows up without a father in the home – 18 million children. The situation is even more concerning in the black community, where America First Policy reports that nearly 7 out of 10 black children are born into fatherless homes.
Research from the National Fatherhood Initiative provides data highlighting the significant impact of father absence on children's outcomes. According to their research:
- Children from father-absent homes are twice as likely to drop out of high school.
- They are seven times more likely to become pregnant as teens.
- They are four times more likely to live in poverty.
Here’s something even more shocking – according to Fulton County, Ga., and the Texas Department of Correction, 85% of all young people in prison grew up in a fatherless home. This doesn’t mean every child without a father will turn to crime or violence. But the numbers don’t lie – a missing father increases the risk in a big way.
More gun laws won’t fix what broken homes create.
If we really care about reducing violence, we must care about rebuilding the family – starting with fathers.
When a child grows up without a father, boys lose a role model for how to be a man, while girls lose the protection and guidance that fathers bring. When there’s no father or mentor to guide them, gangs become their family and guns become their sense of safety. In that void, violence becomes their teacher – showing them how to survive, not how to succeed. It teaches fear instead of love, revenge instead of discipline, and pain instead of purpose.
That’s why just taking away guns won’t fix the real issue. People who are hurting will still find ways to hurt others – even without a gun. We can pass all the gun laws we want, but if we don’t fix the breakdown of the family, especially the absence of fathers, violence will continue.
What’s The Solution?
The real solution is not found in Washington, D.C., or Montgomery, Ala. It starts in the home. It starts with fathers taking responsibility for their children.
We need churches, schools and communities to come together and help restore fatherhood. Mentorship programs, faith-based initiatives, and fatherhood education can make a real difference.
Public policy should encourage parents to take care of their children. Our current welfare program does the opposite, making it harder for two-parent families to stay together. That needs to change. Leaders from both political parties should work together to fix the system. Making families stronger should be something everyone can agree on.
Families shouldn’t be punished for having both a mom and a dad at home.
Until we fix the fatherless home crisis in America, no amount of gun control will stop the violence. It’s father control that will make a lasting difference.
If we want safer streets, stronger communities, and less violence, we must build strong children. Raising strong children begins with having fathers in the home.
This Father’s Day, we celebrate the men who do more than share a name – they share their time, their wisdom, and their strength.
Being a father isn’t just about biology – it’s about being there. It’s about leading with conviction, loving without condition, and lifting your children toward their God-given potential.
To every dad who shows up, who sacrifices, who lives by example and models true manhood – thank you. America needs more fathers like you.
Happy Father’s Day.
To contact KCarl or request a speaking engagement, go to www.kcarlinc.com.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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