(Warning: this post discusses the El Paso and Dayton shootings, and the American gun culture)
I'm sure this has been said time and time again.
While people are still out there dying, I will add my voice to that, time and time again.
America has a gun problem.
The hatred that appears to be the motive behind the El Paso attack proves that far-right terrorists are a problem in the US.
A White man can be a terrorist.
Terrorism doesn't have a colour - except blood.
But there's another issue here, one which we have to come back to again and again...
America has a problem with guns.
El Paso and Dayton last week were just the latest in a long line of massacres - yes, massacres - made easy by the ready access to firearms in most states.
You have assault weapons.
There is no justification for a civilian to ever own an assault weapon.
And somehow, America, you can't see the problem with that.
Guns kill people.
Guns were designed to take life and/or injure. That's their entire purpose.
I'm not saying that you can't have guns for sport - we have those in the UK.
...But they're licensed.
Because if you want guns for sport, you shouldn't have a problem with someone knowing you have it.
Come to think of it, if you want to have a gun for any other purpose than murder, then you shouldn't have a problem with someone knowing you have it.
Maybe you're not ready for that level of gun control. But banning assault weapons would be a start.
But, America, if the blood of your children is not enough to get you act, then I don't know what will be.
'So how many daughters, tell me, how many sons
Do we have to have to put in the ground
Before we just break down and face it
- - We got a problem with guns?'
- The Killers, Land of the Free
Last updated: 12th October 2019
I saw this tweet that said something like: “we thought after sandy hook things would change, but after America concluded that killing children was bearable over banning assault rifles, no change was made.” That struck a chord with me. I cannot believe that selfish assholes would rather be able to carry machine guns just because they can rather than protecting kindergarten students.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how they can just stand by and allow 'business as usual' when business as usual is dead children.
DeleteI feel so sad and angry about this -- and helpless. No matter how many times these things happen, our politicians refuse to take any action, even if the face of surveys that show that a majority of American support a wide array of gun control measures. I hate it & I don't know how to change it.
ReplyDeleteThe only way to change it is to keep talking. Keep making it clear that this is not acceptable, keep pointing out that things aren't ok. And realise that you are totally f**king awesome! <3
Delete