The latest gun violence in Roseburg, Oregon at Umpqua Community College has once again proven there are too many guns on the streets of America and too many unresolved issues. So far this year there have been 41 school shootings in the United States.
Why are Americans so fearful of greater gun control when such atrocities have become commonplace? Perhaps there is a deeper manifestation of fear that goes beyond all common sense. For example, most Americans do not trust their own municipal or federal governments. Regardless of whether you are a Liberal or Republican, the country has been polarized since the Bush/Gore campaign of 2000.
Secondly, the recent police shootings across the United States have the average American afraid of their local police and unable to trust-in their own judicial system. Furthermore, the disclosure by Eric Snowden of the National Security Agency spying on Americans has left an uneasy feeling with most. Information the U.S. federal government is well aware of, specifically within Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities.
The random terror of shootings in elementary schools, high schools, colleges, malls, movie theatres, which have included highway snipers, shootings on military bases, and inner-city gang violence, has most definitely taken a psychological toll on the populations of every state in the union.
At the heart of this issue is how Americans appear unable to trust one other, whether it’s a longstanding neighbour, bus driver, local mail delivery person, or soldier from a near-by army barracks. Indeed, the country has never been more on-edge. Suffice it to say, the next President of the United States will inherit a worst state of the union than the last.
According to the National Shooting Foundation, people are arming themselves more than ever, specifically women. CNN recently reported many who own firearms plan to carry more often.This proliferation of weapons will no doubt continue into the future with the culture of guns and self-defence standing fast against the idea of stricter gun control legislation.
To add to the greater violence in the country is the idea Islamic extremist groups will soon be at America’s front door. In fact, many believe they are already there. The May 3rd shooting in Texas outside a Prophet Mohammed cartoon contest in the Dallas suburb of Garland, has made clear anyone with an Internet connection and Twitter account could be radicalized to commit mass murder.
The problem of gun violence by the sick and mentally ill is always a major concern, but under the present psychological stress, paranoia, and fear of the unknown, most Americans are experiencing with crime, terrorism and mistrust of government; it’s doubtful the people of the United States will change their direction anytime soon with respect to guns, gun violence, or gun legislation.
