I have
discussed/argued/talked about, hashed & rehashed this issue of gun violence
in the USA with friends both American & non-American. Gun violence IS a problem there. No one can argue over this. But when I listen to comments & views
coming from gun rights supporters, I can’t help but feel astounded by how
narrow-minded & skewed their viewpoints are. I find lists easier to absorb than pure prose
so here goes…,
1) “Guns do
not kill people; people kill people”. Somehow, the fact that it’s so much easier for
people WITH GUNS to kill people than for people WITHOUT guns seems to have
flown over their heads. Terrorist attack
in London by a guy with a knife – ZERO persons killed; 3 persons injured. Terrorist attack in San Bernadino by two
people with rifles & guns – 14 persons killed; 20 persons injured. Do the Math.
2) “The
government just wants to take guns away from us”. Usually, “the government” here refers to the
Democrats. This is reflective of how
divisive it has become in the USA: liberals vs conservatives. It is hard for me to fathom the paranoia
amongst the conservatives that the government wants to take away guns from
everyone. It is sad for me to see all the “shouting”
that takes place on the internet between these two groups, instead of coming
together to try to find answers.
3) “We need
to arm more people”. I have come to
realize that basically, the NRA & many of the gun rights supporters would
prefer everyone to go into a gun battle in the name of self-defense than to avoid
the gun battle in the first place by preventing guns from getting into the
wrong hands. I shudder to think of the
scenario in which armed innocents go against armed perpetrators – imagine the
carnage. Even experienced law
enforcement officers have said that even with training, when you are plunged
into a life and death situation, much of what was learnt before doesn’t really
work as expected. Check out this
video
4) “Mental
Health is what we should focus on instead”.
Of course we have to address this big problem. But the fact is that mental health problems
are not unique to the USA. It is a
problem worldwide. And yet, only in the
US do you see how mentally ill persons are able to get hold of guns and cause
carnage in schools, movie theaters, churches, medical centers….
5) “There
are already laws in place that require background checks when buying guns” My response to this is: obviously, they
aren’t working. Isn’t it time to sit down & relook at WHY people who should
not have guns are STILL able to get guns?
Even as I write this, a bill which would make background checks on gun
sales at gun shows & online a requirement has been overturned.
6) ”We have
the constitutional right to bear arms”
This view is probably the one which I find the most difficult to come to
terms with. The constitution was written
over 200 years ago, in circumstances entirely & vastly different from
current times. I cannot understand the
reluctance of many to accept that change may be necessary for the good of
society. The right to bear arms should
not be all-encompassing. There are some
in society who do not/should not have the right to bear arms: the mentally
incapacitated, the suicidal, the potential terrorist, the under aged, the
intoxicated, the criminals, period.
I know that
this short essay will not make a difference to die-hard gun advocates. I DO NOT consider myself anti-gun. I consider myself pro-gun control. Much like how pro-choice does not equate to
anti-life, I believe that there are alternatives out there. But it WILL involve compromise, as in most
things in life. As it stands, when I see
what is being said and discussed on social media & on the internet, I am not confident at all that the gun rights
supporters will be willing to compromise.
It would be wonderful if I am proven wrong.
