Amerikansk våbenkultur: problem og løsningsforslag

A remarkable number of people die every year in America caused by guns. It shows that the American gun culture is a huge problem. Not only for the poor people is it a problem, but for all of the American citizens. They live in a constant fear of being assaulted in their home or on the street. Now why is this gun culture a problem, in which way has it become a problem, and what can be done to solve it.

If you ask a random American on the street, if he or she has a gun at home, the most would give you the answer ‘yes’. Now why is that? It could be because the American citizens feel fear, even if they live in a pleasant neighborhood. If a probably number of people owns a gun, it will make the people who does not own a gun feel insecure. Then the people who does not own a gun, will get themselves one too, so that they can feel save. It is a kind of evil circle, where everyone gets themselves a gun to feel save.

This problem also has its price. The dead rate caused by guns is unbelievable high in the USA. The gun culture is all wrong in the USA. Almost every family owns a gun, and some of the children even know where the parents hide it. This result in, children bringing guns to school, and shoots other students. As if it was not enough, it is also unusually easy to get a gun in the USA. In the movie ‘Bowling for Columbine’ we see this bank that offers you a rifle if you open an account in their bank. Then when you have got yourself a gun it is easier, believe it or not, to get the bullets. The bullets can be bought in normal supermarkets like Wall Mart. Now it is clearly why the Americans are afraid of strange people, because who knows if the person carries a gun, when they are this easy to get. This problem is clearly out of proportion. To solve this problem I think the government has to take responsibility and do something about it. They could for example make it more difficult to get a gun and ammunition. They could make a legislation, which says if you do not have a clean criminal record, you cannot buy a gun unless you have a grant that says that you are allowed to buy guns. They could also forbid selling ammunition without a grant. These grants would only be available if the local authority agrees to give it. Now this is not the complete solution, but I am sure it would make a difference. The place where the greatest progress towards a save gun culture would be, is the citizens. They are in spite of all, the main reason why they feel insecure in their own country. I think if my proposal about tighten up the availability of guns in the USA would come into force, the fear among the Americans would improve, so they would be and feel more safe. A thing that I also find extremely remarkable is that there is a big difference, if you are in Canada or in the USA although it is both in America. In Canada there is as many gun owners as in the USA, but not nearly as many deaths caused by guns. The Canadians let their door stand open when they leave their houses. Why this big difference. I cannot figure out this big difference, but something is for sure, something must be different. I do not know if it is the Canadians who are more open for strangers, more stupid or just more fearless. Maybe it is something the government has done, I cannot give you an answer, other than Canada’s gun culture is a lot different from the USA’s gun culture.