Oh what a dark dark day it was, on the 14th of December, 2012.
I probably don't need to go back into detail about the Sandy Hook shooting, since you can probably find most of the news coverage online anyway. The angle, which I think most journalists are now picking up on, is "Will this change the gun laws in the United States?".
The U.S. President, Barack Obama, certainly made it clear he wants to do as much as he can.
Now I'm not a citizen of the United States, so I admit the knowledge I have about politics over there may not be as best as it should, but from what I know, one of the first ten amendments to the U.S. constitution (known as the Bill of Rights), says that citizens have "a right to bear arms" [sic]. Now on that note, that was back when the U.S. and the U.K. weren't the best of buds, and in some respect gave citizens a chance to be prepared if an invasion did happen. Which, I think it did, something about Paul Revere? I'm no good at world history...
Ok so anyway, 200+ years later, U.S. citizens are still able to carry guns.
Bringing this back to a New Zealand perspective, I've known a few people here with gun licenses for rifles. They mainly come from families with farms and lifestyle blocks, so I can understand the use for such a gun.
When you have a university halls resident keep a rifle under their bed for "safety" while at university... that's when I get uneasy.
So why do people in the United States need to stock up on weapons and ammunition? And don't give me this "doomsday" or "zombie" malarkey... it's December 22 and it's over. I do believe there is no anarchy here.
If someone wants to explain the reasons behind owning multiple live firearms I'd love to hear that side of the story, actually.
In the meantime the Obama Administration is planning to release a proposal for tightening gun laws in January, and elsewhere online a petition is on the White House website asking the administration to "Immediately address the issue of gun control through the introduction of legislation in Congress". It started the day of the shooting, and like all petitions, needed 25,000 signatures in one month to be considered. There's still three weeks left and it already has 200,000.
If you are from the United States I ask you to consider looking at it if you haven't already, here.
Could this be the start of a New-nited States of America? (Bad pun alert). Only time will tell.
Feel free to add to this blog... comment below and pass it on!
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