Handguns
Yesterday's assassination attempt on an Arizona Congressman shines the light once again on two issues in the U.S.. The first issue is the media-driven division of the American public to the point of erasing a national identity. The other is the absurd accessibility of handguns in America.
The "troubled" suspected assassin is no different than an Afghan boy who is lured to commit violence by manipulative extremists. The shadowy older man, who is now the subject of a search, based on his being recorded by security camera, may be the equivalent of a religiously deranged imam, a puppet-master of violence and hatred. (Post-publication note, 1-11-11: The investigators eventually found that the shadowy older man was simply the cab driver who took the shooter to the scene. However, there are many less-than-shadowy shock jocks who should search their consciences in this case.)
While we could argue until our Sun goes into nova about the many factors involved in such an act, the harsh and simple reality is that a mentally impaired person, an addict and/or a criminal can get a handgun in the U.S. all too easily. It is time the N.R.A. be held accountable for its bullying the American political establishment into giving free rein to indiscriminate gun dealers. It is also time for a ban on handguns. Perhaps our armed services would best serve the American public by being deployed in this task along with state and local police departments.
Yes, I agree that it is undesirable to control a whole population because of one violent misfit or felon. However, the whole population can be enlisted in a campaign against handguns for its own general safety and protected freedom of political discourse. The likelihood of assassination for holding a certain political view in this country places the U.S. alongside Pakistan in terms of safe political discourse. Do we wish to emulate Pakistan in this way, or in any other way?
The "troubled" suspected assassin is no different than an Afghan boy who is lured to commit violence by manipulative extremists. The shadowy older man, who is now the subject of a search, based on his being recorded by security camera, may be the equivalent of a religiously deranged imam, a puppet-master of violence and hatred. (Post-publication note, 1-11-11: The investigators eventually found that the shadowy older man was simply the cab driver who took the shooter to the scene. However, there are many less-than-shadowy shock jocks who should search their consciences in this case.)
While we could argue until our Sun goes into nova about the many factors involved in such an act, the harsh and simple reality is that a mentally impaired person, an addict and/or a criminal can get a handgun in the U.S. all too easily. It is time the N.R.A. be held accountable for its bullying the American political establishment into giving free rein to indiscriminate gun dealers. It is also time for a ban on handguns. Perhaps our armed services would best serve the American public by being deployed in this task along with state and local police departments.
Yes, I agree that it is undesirable to control a whole population because of one violent misfit or felon. However, the whole population can be enlisted in a campaign against handguns for its own general safety and protected freedom of political discourse. The likelihood of assassination for holding a certain political view in this country places the U.S. alongside Pakistan in terms of safe political discourse. Do we wish to emulate Pakistan in this way, or in any other way?
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