What's politics got to do with gun control?
What Obama is doing is pursuing arms control in phases, which we wholeheartedly support. Introducing background checks may be a small step but it's a significant step for a safer country.
Published: Wed 6 Jan 2016, 6:05 PM
In a presidential election year, President Obama is taking careful aim to curb the sales of guns with stricter background checks on individuals. We say careful because it's politically loaded with an eye on the ballot. Obama wants it that way. That's the only problem with the plan. Democratic candidates like Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton could gain popular support among the electorate if the legislation goes through, which it should, as people have had enough of a trigger-happy culture. But tying bullets to the ballot will not work in the long run if America is to give up arms and turn peaceful at the core.
Now for some bullet-ridden statistics. The United States has just five per cent of the world's population but 31 per cent of mass murders take place there, and these exclude gang-related violence. Last year 355 incidents of mass shootings were reported from across the country, including the terror-related case in San Bernadino where 14 people were gunned down by a husband and wife.
The president is gung ho after public opinion polls showed Americans overwhelmingly support expanding background checks for gun purchases. But they are more divided on the broader question of stricter gun laws. The anti-gun movement has wealthy backers like former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. However, support for the fledgling movement pales in comparison to the National Rifle Association, which is one of the largest lobbies in American politics.
With their top guns doing the talking, the powerful lobby promotes the use of weapons for 'self defence'. Arguments for weapon possession are linked to the rising threat of terrorism. The right will show their might. The streets are not safe after Paris, the gun lobby says. Terror is a threat. But that is no excuse to take the law into your own hands.
What Obama is doing is pursuing arms control in phases, which we wholeheartedly support. Introducing background checks may be a small step but it's a significant step for a safer country. The president has nothing to lose with this piece of legislation, while his party has a lot to gain. The Republicans will then take their positions to fire with some help from the National Rifle Association. It's time to bite the bullet...er ballot.
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