The Slaughter at Omaha: Avoid Snap Judgments …
Is this the time, after the massacre at an Omaha mall, to question the wisdom of the right to bear arms in the United States? According to this op-ed article from Chile’s La Nacion, whatever the truth of such criticism, it is time to show respect to the victims and avoid the usual finger-pointing.
“The new tragedy has provided the Spanish news media, once again, a chance to show contempt for the victims, by assigning blame for this and other such massacres to the fact that the U.S. permits easy possession of firearms.”
By José Carlos Rodríguez
Translated By Virginia Gillenwater
December 11, 2007
Chile – La Nacion – Original Article (Spanish)
Eight people who thought only of spending time doing some Christmas shopping at a mall in Omaha, Nebraska, encountered death instead. A young man of 19 years, unable to shoulder a few minor setbacks, decided to kill himself. But before ending his own, he wanted to take a few others with him, people who were strangers; anyone would do. “Now I’ll be famous,” he left in a note, but perhaps with a tone of irony.
The new tragedy has provided the Spanish news media, once again, a chance to show contempt for the victims, by assigning blame for this and other such massacres to the fact that the U.S. permits easy possession of firearms.
For if episodes like this one really brought regret, one would think people would have the courage to ask how they got into this situation in the first place. After all, what is the history of the right to bear arms in that country and in Europe? Tragically, the slaughter at the mall is more typical than what one might think.
As in the case of the killings at the University of Virginia [Virginia Tech], this shopping center had been declared a “weapons-free zone.” Most such shootings occur in areas in which bearing arms is forbidden. Murderers, including those who commit suicide, operate quite rationally in that they prefer to act where they feel safe – and because those who initiate a firefight in areas where bearing arms is permitted cannot carry out their plans without being killed themselves.
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2 Responses to “The Slaughter at Omaha: Avoid Snap Judgments …”
Establishing gun free zones is uncdcut by the lack of control over the supply of guns and the ease with which arms of any kind can be obtained.
There is the criminal element in the supply of guns, of course, bu that’s only part of the picture.
There are sensible ways to balance the right to bear arms with regulation, but the gun lobby trumps the least whiff of sensible solutions.
How many massacres will it take before America faces up to the problem?
At the very least there should be background checks and gun registration/permits.
I don’t know how much I want to intrude upon someone’s right to own a gun, regardless of type of gun. I mean I think most gun fanatics are generally safe with their guns. But if someone wants to take out a few people in the mall they a.) are probably not gun fanatics and b.) will accomplish their task with a handgun or two if that’s all they can get.
Personally I think guns are evil. While my brother and I were growing up Dad would take us target practicing with him- my brother and I were probably 7-10 years old during this period. Dad taught us how to safely handle the guns and shoot them, as well as explicit instructions not to play around with guns, even if we thought they were not loaded. It was great experience and my brother and I learned all about them. But I still think they’re evil and they have no place in my home. While I hope everyone will feel that way (no guns allowed)- I’m not going to tell anyone that they can not own a gun. But guns need to be registered.