IT’S NOT DIFFICULT – TAKE ONE

IT’S NOT DIFFICULT

TAKE ONE

It’s not difficult – in fact it’s all too easy.

As this week has proved once again, it only takes one disturbed person with a gun to wreak havoc in a school and kill innocent children. And regrettably there are many more individuals out there who have a similar desire to inflict such harm. Furthermore, the evidence is unequivocal – the correlation is strong: there really are more mass shootings in the U.S. where guns are easily available, and the ready access to such weapons really does play into the hands of those with such malevolent intent. 

There are, of course, those who insist on a right to bear arms for their own protection – which one can, to a point, understand. But in part at least, the fact that weapons are so easily obtainable is the exact reason that makes it more necessary to be able to defend oneself. Moreover, most mass shooters are not experienced criminals with the wherewithal to obtain illegal weapons – instead they are those who need to be able to simply walk into a shop and buy them to carry out their lethal desires.

And so, as I said at the start, it’s not difficult – in fact it’s all too easy: gun control needs to be significantly tightened with, at the very least, background checks being undertaken, so called ‘red flag’ laws to temporarily restrict individuals of concern from owning a weapon, and the introduction of time delays between requesting a gun and actually obtaining one.

None of which should be seen as an attempt to curb rights – but an endeavour to save lives. Because the second amendment is all very well, but there are no second chances for those who get shot.

TAKE TWO

It’s not difficult – in fact it’s all too easy.

As this week has proved once again, it only takes one disturbed individual in charge of a country to wreak havoc on a neighbouring territory and kill innocent children – be that Ukraine or Gaza. And, regrettably I fear, there are plenty more individuals out there who have a similar desire to inflict such harm. 

Furthermore, the evidence is unequivocal – the correlation is strong: dropping bombs on a residential area increases the number of civilians that are likely to be killed – which, in some instances at least, appears to be the desire of those with such malevolent intent. 

Some will insist that such individuals were elected as a result of democratic processes and therefore have the right to rule in accordance with the mandate that they have been given. But leaving to one side questions regarding how free some elections really are, it remains the case that being voted for doesn’t necessarily make you fit to govern.

And so, as I said at the start, it’s not difficult – in fact it’s all too easy: controls need to be significantly tightened to ensure homicidal maniacs aren’t allowed to run for high office, background checks ought to be undertaken on individuals of concern, to check for example for any criminal record, and those with dictatorial ambitions need to be prohibited from ever holding high office.

Because, notwithstanding how impossible that surely is  – people in pursuit of power can often be persuasive – wouldn’t it be great if we could ensure leaders had sufficient integrity to manage the influence they are given. Not as an attempt to curb rights – but to endeavour to save lives. 

Because democracy is all very well, but there are no second chances for those murdered by the winner of a popular vote.

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