Saturday, January 15, 2011

The Violent Culture in the USA -- 2


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The arms terminology, commonly used in the USA,tells a lot about the violent culture of that country
Layout & design (Toronto: Jan. 15, 2011) © Jerome D'Costa


The US Constitution Guarantees Possession of Guns and WeaponsThe Second Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees an individual's right to keep and bear arms. This Amendment is considered very sacrosanct by the pro-gun lobby. That's why it is extremely difficult in the USA to change this right of keeping and bearing arms.

Guns Kill Their Presidents, Too


Guns know no class and race. They kill the poorest, people of middle class and also high society people. They kill the illiterate and literate alike. In the 235 years of US history, there were 44 presidents. Of them, four U.S. presidents have been assassinated. They are (1) President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865): He was shot at a close range at a theatre by John Wilkes Booth, a drama actor and Confederate (the southern States that had tried to secede from the US union) spy. (2) President James Abram Garfield (1831-1881): He was killed by Charles Julius Guiteau, an American lawyer. (3) William McKinley, Jr. (1843-1901): He was killed by an anarchist, named Leon Czolgosz. (4) President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963): He was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald with a rifle.

Mass Murderers & Serial Killers Shook the Conscience of Americans, Yet There's No Restrictions on Guns and Weapons

Mass murderers and serial killers also tainted the US history with their gun and other weapon related crimes. Opponents of easy proliferation of guns could not do anything yet to restrict guns and other hand-held weapons.

Educated Mass-murderers in Schools and Universities

In recent past, students of certain schools, colleges and universities fell victim to fellow students' bullets. In Littleton, Colorado, Columbine High School murders were committed on April 20, 1999 by two of its students. On April 16, 2007, one student shot dead 32 fellow students at the Virginia Institute of Technology and nearby State University in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Besides these, there were many other school shootings in the USA in the past.

Gun & Weapon Production and Sale Are a Multi-billion Dollar Business

There are literally not dozens but hundreds of manufacturers and distributors of guns and other lethal weapons in the USA. This business brings in billions of dollars. The USA is also the topmost exporter of guns and other sophisticated weapons in the world. Many governments in different continents are its clients. One must remember that the US is the ultra-capitalist country. The main motive of capitalism is making profit as much as possible. If gun and weapon sale is restricted, they can't make enough profit.

The Pro-Gun Lobby's Influence Among Politicians Is the Strongest

The pro-gun lobby in the USA exerts the strongest influence among law makers and politicians. They want to ensure that guns and weapons sale and distribution are as free and easy as possible. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is a strong proponent of easier guns and other arms sale and possession. This organization's influence is as strong as ever.





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