Jack A Smith: What's Behind America.s Gun Violence?

There is more than the act of one individual involved in the mass gin killings that take place in America, the most recent being the massacre of 20 young children and seven school workers at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton Connecticut December 14. The main culprit, of course, is the late killer, Adam Lanza, 20. But such events occur within a context of shared responsibility for the unparalleled number of mass and individual shooting deaths that take place in the United States every year. This includes the political system and politicians, the National Rifle Association and other gun lobbies, and federal, state and local governments. Each has played an indirect role in the latest and earlier slaughters. Of these other responsible parties, one is our political system that refuses to strengthen absurdly deficient federal and state restrictions on the possession of various types of arms. Another is the irresponsible politicians who make it relatively easy for criminals, people with mental problems, and those who are unfit to possess weapons for other reasons to accumulate a private arsenal. In recent decades, despite the fact that last year there were over 11,000 murders by firearms in the US, and another 20,000 gun deaths from accidents and suicide, not to mention many more injuries, the great majority of American politicians have been too gutless to fight for tougher laws. President Obama was moved to tears in announcing the deaths of 6 and 7 year old children in Newtown, and said he might take meaningful action of an unidentified nature, but Obama is risk averse, and has shown a disinclination to tangle with the pro gun lobbies throughout his first term, so there's a chance all well get is tears and rhetoric, even though 80% of the American people want gun owners to secure police permits, and nearly 90% would require background checks on all gun sales. On the other hand, the fact that 20 youngsters were massacred, has shocked the nation to the extent that it may be politically advantageous for the White House and Congress to pass token legislation. Most conservative Republicans will do whatever is possible to block progress on gun control, but they may be less obstructive if a proposed law is weak and limited. No major changes are anticipated.