BSC Address

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

America

It illustrates the state America has got into that I am struggling to feel sympathy for the country in the wake of the massacre of Virginia. It’s hard to feel sorry for a nation that persists in a pattern of behaviour that repeatedly causes national disaster: gun ownership.

It is incomprehensible in the wake of the tragedy that eminent senators and congressmen have seriously suggested the answer to preventing future calamities is to arm more people so they have a chance to defend themselves. That if the students had all carried guns, they could have killed this madman themselves. They insanely argue that increasing the number of people who carry guns will reduce the deathtoll that haunts their country. Are these politicians evil or simply deranged?

11,000 Americans kill each other with guns every year. That’s nearly four times the amount of people who died on 9/11. And they do it every year. America’s reaction to 9/11 has been catastrophic for the Middle East, yet they doggedly side step the disaster that happens annually on their doorstep. Their own ability to kill each other makes Bin Laden look like an amateur.

I love many things about America and Americans. But their perverse attachment to weapons of violence is incomprehensible and indefensible. And it is hard to feel sorry for someone who despite all the evidence staring them in the face, still likes to play with guns, shooting themselves in the foot again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again...

4 Comments:

At 10:35 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

On the radio I listened to a student at virginia say that they agree with the right for an american to bare arms. And that he was shocked that the gunman wasnt even using a "dangerous" weapon that you would imagine would be used for assault purposes. Like an assault rifle. But a less dangerous weapon like a handgun that he could go out and buy tommorrow.

When a handgun isn't considered a dangerous weapon in the eyes of a nation, a handgun that is used to kill thousands of innocents a year. Isnt it time that the votes of the southern arms baring masses arent as important as the lives of the everyday people.

How can an entire Nation be so Naive?

 
At 3:36 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is an interesting discussion.

i have worked a lot in america, and worked with a lot of canadians, and it seems that in canada they also have a large population of gun owners. but they have much less gun crime!

America has a lot of guns, and a lot of shootings. But you could say guns themselves are not to blame - a gun won't fire itself. and if someone is screwed up enough to really want to shoot someone, then even in this country i am sure could could find a gun of somesort somehow.

What I find fascinating is the difference in cultures. what influences a culture to 'use' guns as much as america seems to, and not just own them?

Chris

 
At 12:02 PM, Blogger Thor Holt said...

A compex issue and one that Chris is getting much closer to than the knee jerk reactions of commentators as exemplified by James and Neal. Most people could get hold of a gun in countries like the UK, I was offered a handgun as a drama student living in the east end of london a couple of years ago... our culture is not at the stage of America thankfully.

 
At 8:08 PM, Anonymous Royal Cartridge said...

Cartridge

Cartridges are containers that hold ammunition. They are commonly cylindrical in shape and have a chamber where the ammunition is loaded. Cartridges are used to store ammunition and protect the ammunition from dirt and moisture. Cartridges are used in firearms, air guns, paintball guns, and grenade launchers.

 

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