Gun Laws

Opinion Article

"HOOKED ON FEAR"

On April 16th, 2007, "thirty-three people were killed and fifteen others were wounded at Virginia Tech University in the deadliest campus shooting rampage in U.S. history", writes the Reuters.

Americans still remember the massacre in Columbine High School, at Colorado, when two young-boys shot and killed twelve students and one teacher. The United States of America woke up and experienced the same nightmare.

President of the U.S., George W. Bush was standing in front of Virginia Tech's Students and Faculty and stated that: "This is a day of sadness for all Nations". Same words, that the former President, Bill Clinton said on April 20th, 1999 at the Columbine High School Auditorium at Colorado.

Up to date, we have had two Presidents, one Constitution that recognizes the right to the American citizen to bear and keep arms and eleven thousand one hundred twenty seven individuals (11.127) killed annually in the U.S by firearms.

The Association "Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence", in the United States, claims that both Colorado and Virginia take an "F" in the State final Report, in Secondary "Private" Sales Background Checks. An "F" means that there is no background check if the potential buyer is mentally ill.

Some may wonder why Seung-Hui Cho, the gunman from Korea, in Virginia Tech killed innocent people, when both Eric Harris and Dylan Climbolt killed their schoolmates at Colorado in 1999. At the question why so many people are killed every year, the National Riffle Association portrait the Government as the one which gives the permission of carrying weapons.

"People look for intrinsic reasons for Cho's acts, when the simpler explanation-to the extent that such a horrendous act can ever be explained-is that Cho was a mentally ill young man, who should never have had access to guns", says Laila Lalami, Virginia Tech alumna from Morocco.

Furthermore, the American Constitution, in more than twenty States, gives the right to parents in allowing their kids carrying weapons. It is hard for an average European to understand, why young people, from 12 to 18 years-old could have legal permission from their parents to bear firearms, when fathers, from other Western countries, would give permission to their kids for staying a bit later at night or going to an excursion with friends.

Many American citizens would say that weapons are for protection; if this makes sense, Americans who are holding weapons, fear for their lives; Frank Furedi in his Book "The Politics of Fear", argues that people live in a Therapeutic Culture and that makes them victims. Because, once a victim, always a victim, even if you are recovering.

In Virginia, we have had thirty-three victims that lost their lives and a whole nation which is recovering for the sadness and fear. Some of them might bear arms, but the question is, if now, the fear drove some of them to buy a weapon. People tend to examine the traditional ideas such as the State, both Church and family and their traditional values. People, no more, believe in other people's ideas; so, everyone lives his life alone and isolated. Seung-Hui Cho, who killed thirty-three people, including him, sent to the NBC Channel some photos of him, with captions underneath. One caption says: "You have vandalized my heart". So, if Mr. Cho, felt alone and hurt from other people, this reaction of leaving behind this letter, shows a mentally abused and angry person.

According to Mr. Evan McCollum, Public Relations Manager for the World's largest weapon's maker Company, "Lockheed Martin", people commit crimes when they are angry.

"Lockheed Martin" supports that the reason why young men decide to kill others is their anger. In 2002, the Weapon's Company gave $100,000 to the Educational Institutions to hire teachers in order to promote alternative ways to deal with anger.

"Lockheed Martin'" is based at Littleton, Colorado, just a few kilometers away from the Columbine High School. About five thousand people (5,000) are working for this Company when the population in Littleton, according to the U.S Census Bureau, commits to paper 40,599 citizens. That means, one out of eight (1/8) citizens earns money every day by manufacturing bombs and weapons. Some of the employees have lost their kids in the Columbine massacre. But, this company still gives solution to the unemployment and feed the rest of their families. On the other hand, The British Association of Anger Management has conducted surveys to examine the results of being angry. In its official site does not include the result of murder. In addition to that, one out of three Londoners used to eat a lot when they are angry or going for shopping and "murdered" themselves in debt.

British people also have a stressed life; work hard and their kids watch the same violent movies, play the same brutal games and disappoint themselves with the same reasons; such as broken relationships, unemployment and discrimination.

To sum up, both Columbine massacre and the Virginia's Tech nightmare send one message to the wholly planet; the three kids who committed crimes live in the same world as us. The same fast world where there is no time for personal relationships. There