Violent America

The recent failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump by a 20-year-old male has garnered international shock. However, within America, the shock is muted, not because of the nature of the violence, but due to the high profile of the target. This incident, though more publicized, is a reflection of a broader and more pervasive issue. In the US, all that one needs to buy guns is to show a driving licence in order to prove one’s age. There are also no restriction on the type of guns for sale. In fact anyone can buy even a machine gun or if it is available, even an armoured vehicle. Despite frequent mass shootings, attempts in the US to enact gun control legislation have long been frustrated by a powerful gun lobby. US has 120.5 firearms per 100 residents, report finds. It is the only country with more civilian-owned firearms than people. Several investigations have shown that major anti-gun control lobbying groups – notably the most prominent, the National Rifle Association (NRA) – have close ties with the multibillion-dollar firearms industry in the US. The National Rifle Association(NRA) acts as a front for the gun lobby and works to influence both state and federal policy on guns, usually through supporting candidates who have pledged opposition to gun control measures. The irony is glaring: a nation that prides itself on unparalleled military strength and global interventions fails to address the violence tearing it apart from within. It is time for the United States to confront this internal enemy with the same resolve it shows on international fronts. Protecting its citizens from domestic threats should be as high a priority as any foreign mission, if not higher. The safety of Americans should not be overshadowed by the country’s military ambitions abroad. The United States stands as a preeminent military power, its strength and global interventions often overshadowing the grim reality at home: the government’s profound inability to safeguard its own citizens. Each day, nearly 330 Americans lose their lives to violence, a staggering statistic that starkly contrasts with the nation’s boasts of ensuring safety through military prowess. America’s armed forces rush to defend foreign nations and engage in international conflicts, priding themselves on maintaining global peace and security. The supposed purpose of this formidable military force is to protect America. Yet, the real threat lies within— not from Russians, Chinese, or Arabs, but from fellow Americans. These threats come from both the sane and the insane, armed not just with simple pistols but with sophisticated assault weapons, high-velocity sniper rifles, and even machine guns, turning everyday settings into scenes of unexpected violence. The problem of too many hand guns in America is compounded by the tragic consequences of too much violence in the movies. It is said, in America teenage gangs in their thousands carry handguns to schools as a form of protection but that there have been serious problems when gang fights break out between rivals. Sometimes, even minors are reported to possess hand guns which are like a dime a dozen in most American homes. Fights between minors sometime erupt into gun fights. However, with the recent shootings the Americans would be compelled to look at their own policy regarding enforcing stricter control over sale of hand guns.