Guns
and America
Asad Mirza
Recent mass shootings in the US have been
attributed to a variety of causes - disaffected youth, mental illness,
workplace conflict and family discord. According to the BBC the nature of the
attack could also prompt a rethinking of the domestic threat presented by
militant white nationalists and ways to stop it, including new gun control
measures.
The attacks have once again brought into
focus two crucial acts, which are related to America. First, is the Gun Control
Laws in the US. Many Americans and the Republican Party included, oppose
restriction of arms possession by the American public. Second, is the
international law known as Arms Trade Treaty, which aims to restrict sale of
arms to those countries which are in a state of turmoil or internal dissidence,
in this case too, the US is not a signatory to the ATT, which was adopted by
the United Nations on 24 December 2014, and so far 104 states have ratified the
treaty.
Among gun control activists, there is a
certain amount of resignation whenever a new incident splashes across the
headlines. If public sentiment did not force action after the 2012 Newtown
shooting, and if the recent double tragedy of El Paso and Dayton within a week
ends up being different, then it will be a victory for the gun control
activists after a long fight.
After the 2018 Parkland shooting, US
President Donald Trump had expressed some interest in backing gun-control
legislation, going so far as to say he was in favour of comprehensive background
check despite National Rifle Association’s (NRA) opposition. Mr Trump had said,
"perhaps more has to be done" to stop such attacks. But critics said
he was part of the problem, citing his anti-immigrant rhetoric and opposition
to gun control. He has already said the Pittsburgh shooting had "little to
do" with US gun laws.
What
is Gun Control Law?
The Gun Contol Law aims to restrict
possession of guns by the general public in America. However, according to a
study by the Pew Research Centre, support for gun control over the protection
of gun rights is highest in America amongst the youth. Pew found that one third
of over-50s years old Americans said they owned a gun. About 40% of Americans
say they own a gun or live in a household with one, according to a 2017 survey,
and the rate of murder or manslaughter by firearm is the highest in the US in
developed world.
While it is difficult to know exactly how
many guns civilians own personal guns around the world, by every estimate the
US with more than 390 million is far out in front. Switzerland and Finland are
two of the other European countries with the most guns per person. For those
from countries where guns are not widely owned, it can be a surprise to
discover that they are relatively cheap to purchase in the US. A handgun, can
cost from as little $200- comparable to a Chromebook laptop.
US public opinion on the banning of
handguns has changed dramatically over the last 60 years. Support has shifted
over time and now a significant majority opposes a ban on handguns, according
to polling by Gallup. A majority of Americans say they are dissatisfied with US
gun laws and policies, and most of those who are unhappy want stricter
legislation.
But Republicans and Democrats are much more
divided over other policy proposals, such as whether to allow ordinary citizens
increased rights to carry concealed weapons - according to a survey from Pew
Research Center. In his latest comment on the shootings, President Donald Trump
said he would be "talking about gun laws as times goes by". However,
The White House said now is not the time to be debating gun control. Trump’s
predecessor, Barack Obama, struggled to get any new gun control laws onto the
statute books, because of Republican opposition.
Who
opposes gun control in America?
The National Rifle Association (NRA)
campaigns against all forms of gun control in the US and argues that more guns
make the country safer. It is among the most powerful special interest lobby
groups in the US, with a substantial budget to influence members of Congress on
gun policy. The NRA spends millions of dollars more elsewhere, such as on
supporting the election campaigns of political candidates who oppose gun
controls.
What
is the Arms Trade Treaty
The roots of what is known today as the Arms
Trade Treaty (ATT) can be traced back to the late 1980s, when civil society
actors and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates voiced their concerns about the
unregulated nature of the global arms trade and its impact on human security.
The ATT is part of a larger global effort
begun in 1997 by Costa Rican President and 1987 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Óscar Arias. In that year, Arias led a group of Nobel Peace Prize laureates in
a meeting in New York to offer the world a code of conduct for the trade in
arms. The original idea was to establish ethical standards for the arms trade
that would eventually be adopted by the international community.
The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is a
multilateral treaty that regulates the international trade in conventional
weapons for the purpose of contributing to international and regional peace;
reducing human suffering; and promoting co-operation, transparency, and
responsible action by and among states.
It entered into force on 24 December 2014.
104 states have ratified the treaty, and a further 32 states have signed but
not ratified it. The countries, which have not ratified or signed it includes
the United States. So it comes out as a case of preaching to others and evading
responsibility for their own acts. If America is unable to control sale and
possession of guns (from hand guns to assault rifles) among its own population,
how and why does it expect to preach about peace to others?
That indeed is a moot question.
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