Guns and America

By Asad Mirza

Recent mass shootings in the US have been attributed to a variety of causes – disaffected youth, mental illness, workplace conflict and family discord. According to the BBC the nature of the attack could also prompt a rethinking of the domestic threat presented by militant white nationalists and ways to stop it, including new gun control measures.

The attacks have once again brought into focus two crucial acts, which are related to America. First, is the Gun Control Laws in the US. Many Americans and the Republican Party included, oppose restriction of arms possession by the American public. Second, is the international law known as Arms Trade Treaty, which aims to restrict sale of arms to those countries which are in a state of turmoil or internal dissidence, in this case too, the US is not a signatory to the ATT, which was adopted by the United Nations on 24 December 2014, and so far 104 states have ratified the treaty.

Among gun control activists, there is a certain amount of resignation whenever a new incident splashes across the headlines. If public sentiment did not force action after the 2012 Newtown shooting, and if the recent double tragedy of El Paso and Dayton within a week ends up being different, then it will be a victory for the gun control activists after a long fight.

After the 2018 Parkland shooting, US President Donald Trump had expressed some interest in backing gun-control legislation, going so far as to say he was in favour of comprehensive background check despite National Rifle Association’s (NRA) opposition. Mr Trump had said, “perhaps more has to be done” to stop such attacks. But critics said he was part of the problem, citing his anti-immigrant rhetoric and opposition to gun control. He has already said the Pittsburgh shooting had “little to do” with US gun laws.

What is Gun Control Law?
The Gun Contol Law aims to restrict possession of guns by the general public in America. However, according to a study by the Pew Research Centre, support for gun control over the protection of gun rights is highest in America amongst the youth. Pew found that one third of over-50s years old Americans said they owned a gun. About 40% of Americans say they own a gun or live in a household with one, according to a 2017 survey, and the rate of murder or manslaughter by firearm is the highest in the US in developed world.

While it is difficult to know exactly how many guns civilians own personal guns around the world, by every estimate the US with more than 390 million is far out in front. Switzerland and Finland are two of the other European countries with the most guns per person. For those from countries where guns are not widely owned, it can be a surprise to discover that they are relatively cheap to purchase in the US. A handgun, can cost from as little $200- comparable to a Chromebook laptop.

US public opinion on the banning of handguns has changed dramatically over the last 60 years. Support has shifted over time and now a significant majority opposes a ban on handguns, according to polling by Gallup. A majority of Americans say they are dissatisfied with US gun laws and policies, and most of those who are unhappy want stricter legislation.

But Republicans and Democrats are much more divided over other policy proposals, such as whether to allow ordinary citizens increased rights to carry concealed weapons – according to a survey from Pew Research Center. In his latest comment on the shootings, President Donald Trump said he would be “talking about gun laws as times goes by”. However, The White House said now is not the time to be debating gun control. Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, struggled to get any new gun control laws onto the statute books, because of Republican opposition.
Who opposes gun control in America?
The National Rifle Association (NRA) campaigns against all forms of gun control in the US and argues that more guns make the country safer. It is among the most powerful special interest lobby groups in the US, with a substantial budget to influence members of Congress on gun policy. The NRA spends millions of dollars more elsewhere, such as on supporting the election campaigns of political candidates who oppose gun controls.

What is the Arms Trade Treaty
The roots of what is known today as the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) can be traced back to the late 1980s, when civil society actors and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates voiced their concerns about the unregulated nature of the global arms trade and its impact on human security.

The ATT is part of a larger global effort begun in 1997 by Costa Rican President and 1987 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Óscar Arias. In that year, Arias led a group of Nobel Peace Prize laureates in a meeting in New York to offer the world a code of conduct for the trade in arms. The original idea was to establish ethical standards for the arms trade that would eventually be adopted by the international community.

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is a multilateral treaty that regulates the international trade in conventional weapons for the purpose of contributing to international and regional peace; reducing human suffering; and promoting co-operation, transparency, and responsible action by and among states.

It entered into force on 24 December 2014. 104 states have ratified the treaty, and a further 32 states have signed but not ratified it. The countries, which have not ratified or signed it includes the United States. So it comes out as a case of preaching to others and evading responsibility for their own acts. If America is unable to control sale and possession of guns (from hand guns to assault rifles) among its own population, how and why does it expect to preach about peace to others?

That indeed is a moot question.