guns

the American way of death

A mass shooting in California early Sunday morning cost ten people their lives with another dying today. Twenty-four hours later, another mass shooting in California killed 7 people. In between two people also died at a youth mentorship program in Iowa from gun violence.

I heard this morning that more people died from gun violence in the United States last year than died during the Vietnam War, which extended well over a decade. In case you forgot, there are more than 57,939 names on the Vietnam Wall. Guns are the preferred manner of solving disputes in the United States. The fantasy—and I realise I will offend some of you but I simply cannot understand the what I see as anything else—that guns defend us is just that, a fantasy.

The teacher in Norfolk, Virginia shot by a 6 year old—a six year old—with his mother’s gun that had to be loaded with the safety off for him to use cannot be safety in shape or form. Why was it available to him? Why did the school not listen to the teacher’s pleas about his violence? Why are we not incensed to the point of doing something about this?

I had a conversation after the horrible December 2012 murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School which showed our naivete. The person I spoke with opined forcefully that Sandy Hook would finally bring us to our senses after twenty children and six adults died at the hands of someone with multiple guns. I said I doubted it because no legislation ever progressed immeediately after the event. I wanted to be wrong but knew I would not be.

I am no longer the least optimistic we will ever solve the problem but that does not mean I think we are civilised any more. We are not. Britain banned handguns fully and effectively, with a infantesimally number of exceptions, after the horrible 1996 Dunblane school shooting in Scotland where 16 children, a teacher and the gunman died.

A serious public inquiry resulted in the Cullen Report which ultimately led to banning handguns and their private ownership in the United Kingdom. We can’t seem to have serious studies on this because it’s all part of our polarised society, the money in our political system, lies about the intent of the government, political legacies from five hundred years ago, and too many other apparently non-negotiable items.

We will continue to see murder perpetuated. It is inexplicable but apparently we truly do not care. Yes, I am angry, fearful, and so heartbroken. FIN