Richard Flamm
The Paw Print
Gun control laws in the U.S. show no signs of growing stricter, now eleven months after the Newton shooting and mass murder of 27 people – most of them children. That shooting, as well as the one that occurred in a sleepy theater in Aurora, prompted serious discussion about gun control and new laws being implemented.
The Guardian reports, “The percentage of Americans who want stricter gun control had been dropping steadily over the past two decades. The one event prior to Newtown that had changed the course of the trend was the Columbine school shooting in 1999. That bump, however, was only momentary.”This underlines the noted trend in the media to graft on to one issue and then sharply abandon it for the next. While stories revolved around shootings and gun control spiked after the Newton tragedy, within three months the issue of gun control was no longer being talked about.
The issue is certainly as important and divisive as ever; exacerbated by the advent of technology such as the 3D printer which is now capable of home-manufacturing firearms.
Americans have differing opinions on the issue, and the desire for stricter laws fluctuates above and below the 50 percent mark – all relative to current events. Efforts for a universal background check came close to attracting enough Republican votes to pass, but failed by a narrow margin.
CNN reports this week that the editor of Guns and Ammo magazine resigned early as a direct result of publishing an article sympathetic to gun control efforts. The writer of the article, Dick Metcalf, wrote, “way too many gun owners still seem to believe that any regulation of the right to keep and bear arms is an infringement.” Supporters of the magazine questioned the publications devotion to the spirit of the second amendment.
As the Guardian reports, “America has the laxest gun laws in the developed world, more guns per person and the highest rate of death by firearms of any developed nation. The US also leads the world in mass shootings.” In contrast to the call for more laws, CNN contributor LZ Granderson comments on the Newtown and Aurora tragedies, “it will keep continue to happen until the advocates accept that ridding the country of guns is a hopeless – and unconstitutional mission – and that the real goal should be addressing the factors that lead to the various forms of gun violence: factors such as poverty, mental health and failing schools.”
As time passes from the last shooting in our country, it behooves each of us to learn and contribute to the conversation. Eleven months have passed from the murder of those beautiful school children. If gun control is no longer being advocated by the media as a way to prevent the next bloodbath, many Americans are wondering, what is?
What’s Been Said…