Now here’s an interesting article:
So it begins. The
highly skilled, highly-paid corporate spin doctors move in to muddy the gun control debate
and create smoke and mirrors. The spin
against gun control is not conducted on behalf of citizens’ rights, the dead
children, or child safety. The spin is
woven by those corporations who are feeling the threat of impending
controls, resulting from the Sandy Hook Massacre.
However, it is this quote, below, which speaks volumes
about America’s acceptance of violence, its gun culture, and the hold corporations have on their government:
“Gun-safety activists were coalescing around expanded
background checks as a key goal for the vice president's task force. Some
advocates said it may be more politically realistic - and even more effective
as policy - than reinstating a ban on assault weapons.” [stuff.co.nz]
“The National Rifle Association says that guns don’t kill
people, people do – but I think the gun helps” [Eddie Izzard]
Arguments against gun controls is a classic illustration
that, in America especially, we DON'T live in a democracy. Judging by the outcry, the people want
controls on assault weapons, but it simply ain't happenin'. We don't live in a democracy; we live a
corporate-dominated manipulation of The People - loosely described as a democracy.
The arguments against gun controls have
nothing to do with protection, citizens' rights, or freedom to bear arms. We all know that the spin against gun control – control which has
thus far proven successful in the UK - has everything to do with powerful gun
businesses and their interests.
Look at the incredible fact that gun sales have
gone up in the wake of Sandy Hook. It’s
a perfect example of corporate money changing, and thus buying, public opinion. The gun lobby has done such an amazing number
on the people of America that they think they will all be safer by buying more
guns. I find it supremely ironic that
those same mid-west Americans taking up more guns would be among the first
to quote the bible on another day: “…they that take the sword shall perish with
the sword" [Matthew 26:52, King James].
Even my favourite blogger seems to baulk at any kind of
gun ban:
“Unfortunately, given the nature of man, I don't think there
is any way to stop these mass killings. Even if we could take away all the
guns, the murderers would make bombs, use poisons or find some other way of
taking the lives of others.” [Bruce Simpson, Aardvark]
Well, I can’t see a future Thomas Hamilton, Johnson-Golden
or Adam Lanza killing up to 26 kids by poison, knives or sharp sticks – can you? And the bombs to kill 26 are not as easy to
make or source as you might think.
My own perspective - as a Scot - comes from a beautiful, quiet town near where I grew up; Dunblane.
Following the deaths of 16 children by shooter Thomas
Hamilton in 1996, the UK government hammered gun users and issued tighter gun
controls. Gun clubs and gun users moaned
and groaned that they could only use air pistols. The moans of the gun club, in my opinion, were
a small price to pay for preventing future “Dunblanes”. I believe that, in contrast to America, the
UK government has implemented EFFECTIVE gun control following the Dunblane
Massacre. How do I define “effective”? Well, the fact is that since that unprecedented
and radical step in the UK, there have been no school killings or similar massacres
in Scotland since.
Yes, yes, yes, I know that the IRA and Al Quaeda are able to
use guns in the UK. They're not idiots like
Adam Lanza, raiding mummy's gun cabinet. Their soldiers can wield weapons in the UK
because they have skilled and wealthy international organisations that can
smuggle guns across borders. It’s fair
to say that gun controls probably wouldn’t affect the operations of Al Quaeda
or the IRA.
So, I hope I am not patronising any of the Dunblane
survivors, when I say that the legacy of the Dunblane Massacre is gun control
that has worked. As a contrast, the survivors
and bereaved of Sandy Hook must be watching the cynical, political debate on
gun control with absolute despair.
I think Obama, in his quest for effective gun control, will
be hamstrung by the system and his political adversaries. Frankly, I think it will take the death of
the child of a gun lobbyist, or a child of a pistol-toting Republican Senator,
to bring about real change. And even
then, I question whether the said affected father will have the integrity to
change his tune.
FURTHER READING:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/02/us-usa-guns-record-idUSBRE9010H020130102
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/17/world/europe/dunblane-lessons/
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/17/world/europe/dunblane-lessons/
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