The World's Gun Culture

We have a gun culture in this country and evidently so do many other countries in the world. There are conflicts raging all around the globe where groups are fighting one another using automatic weapons, grenade launchers, hand held rocket launchers, mortars, etc. And, the incoming fire from these weapons is too often directed at our soldiers. My questions are, why are these weapons so prevalent and where do these groups get what seems like an inexhaustible supply of ammunition to keep these weapons firing? These are simple weapons by military standards, but they certainly are not something so crude that one can build them in one’s basement. Plus, road bombs, car bombs, and suicide bombers require access to plastic explosives and often sophisticated triggering systems. This equipment has to be made in a factory somewhere, warehoused somewhere, shipped by someone, cached somewhere, and then distributed to the end user. These weapons and ammunition are bulky, heavy, and not easily transported in massive amounts.

Our diplomatic core spends significant amount of time “gnashing their teeth” over nuclear weapons and delivery systems that if used would be disastrous. But, in the meantime our soldiers and innocent civilians are being killed daily with these much simpler weapons.

It seems so logical that nations ought to address this massive arms trade. Governments all over the world could insist that production of these weapons and ammunition be carefully controlled. Obviously, their own military and law enforcement need them. Beyond that, controls should exist on selling of surplus weapons or even obsolete weapons. Stock-piling and shipping could be severely curtailed using technology that now exists. Clandestine arms dealers should be put out of business. I understand that some of these weapons are well built and have excellent longevity, but they are simply a hunk of metal without ammunition and spare parts.

We’ve been in Iraq and Afghanistan for years and they are still shooting at us every day. In fact, TV footage often shows them indiscriminately firing guns up in the air to celebrate and/or protest this or that – often us. It’s crazy watching it on TV and it has to be dangerous and scary for our military in these areas. One has to wonder how long these two wars would have gone on without these weapons and ammunition.

I have not seen nor heard of any concerted efforts by our government and other “peace loving” nations actually discussing ways this could be shut down. In fact, the weapons industry is one of the best kept secrets and our news media is strangely silent on any reporting on this huge industry. Existence of inexhaustible supplies of weapons and ammunition is not a shrug one’s shoulders inevitability – it could be gradually reduced and eventually stopped. But, part of the problem is that we are as guilty as other nations in the world in trafficking in weapons systems. After all, there is a lot of money involved in this business plus all the behind the scenes maneuvering to supply some group in our good graces in order to off-set this other group not in our favor. We have been an enabler in many of these conflicts.

The drug war along our border with Mexico is a good example of where our gun culture has come back to haunt us. News reports suggest that many of the weapons used in this war are coming from the U.S. Then, we have a criminal element in our own country who are often better equipped with automatic weaponry than our own law enforcement people.

I view our fascination with guns that have no use except to kill others as some kind of insane perversion. And, I’m not anti-gun. I own and have shot guns of various types all my life in a sporting atmosphere. But, some group’s insistence that guns of all types and configurations be readily available is crazy. This availability and lack of control lends itself to abuse. The military should have them, law enforcement should have them, and maybe a few responsible gun owners who view collection and firing of these weapons as a hobby are fine – they are for the most part very responsible. But, with these exceptions, availability of these weapons should be strictly limited, regulated, and licensed. However, the best place to stop this insanity is not with the end user, but with a concerted effort by government to control manufacturing, distribution, and supply. The world would be a much safer place if insurgents, intolerant tribal fanatics, terrorists, and criminals were limited to throwing rocks. The only people who win in this gun culture are businesses and governments trafficking in this activity.