The sad, sick society that thinks of itself as the Greatest Nation on Earth is again in the midst of a horror story. This time a lunatic claiming some sort of allegiance to Islamic terrorists has murdered 49 people in a Florida nightclub.
Whatever the killer's motivation and regardless of the fact that he had previously been investigated by the FBI, the one and only question that needs to be answered is "Why is it so easy to get a gun in the USA ?" This is yet another in a long, long line of similar rampages carried out by a variety of maniacs; some claim political or religious motives, others are simply insane, but all have found it supremely easy to get their hands on murderous weapons.
Despite the regularity of such incidents, it seems that the American people will not give up the right they have under the Second Amendment to their Constitution, a right which states:
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
For decades, the so-called 'gun-lobby' has insisted that this amendment entitles every American citizen to wander the streets with any kind of firearm that they like; attempts to change it have met with fierce and overwhelming resistance. That the amendment was adopted as long ago as 1791, when the world was a very different place to what it is today, is considered irrelevant; that the gun owners have little if any involvement in a 'well regulated Militia' is ignored. Frankly, the lunatics have taken over the asylum.
The result of this is events such as happened in Florida last night. The reaction of politicians is to condemn the act but look to make political capital out of it; the reaction of those who represent organisations such as the National Rifle Association is to blame the perpetrator while excusing themselves and the rest of the 'gun lobby' of any responsibility.
It is high time that this changed and the USA joined the 21st century, rather than continuing to live in the 19th century world of the 'Wild West'. There are no savage Indians out there, no marauding gangs of robbers or cattle rustlers; there are no 'frontier towns' where the fastest gun reigns supreme, and the Mexican army is not waiting just over the border. It may be news to many in the US but Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, Jesse James and all the rest are long gone, as are Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger, 'Pretty Boy' Floyd and 'Baby Face' Nelson. Today, there is no need for the average American to ever carry a gun indeed, the average American is probably in more danger from his gun-toting neighbours than he ever is from any true villain.
For God's sake, America, wake up to reality and put away your guns.
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