The United States is the world leader in incarceration, despite the national incarceration rate being at its lowest in 20 years, with about 25% of the world’s prison population being in the US. The United States currently has over 2.1 million total prisoners. The prison population in 1972 was 200,000, almost 2 million less than it is today. The prison populations in each state vary in each state, with the highest rates in Louisiana and Oklahoma.

Between the constant mass shootings and the rate of incarceration we need a fundamental change in federal policy not bandaid laws, anyone’s “hopes and prayers”, or debate on how your personal rights outweigh the common good.