ORLANDO SHOOTING AND GUN CULTURE IN USA
Americans are yet to recover from the shock of Orlando mass shooting in which 29-year-old Omar Mateen walked into a gay nightclub in Orlando, wielding an assault rifle and a pistol and shot 50 people dead, the worst mass shooting in United States history. The alarming frequency with which mass shootings occur in the United States raising many questions. Americans make up less than 5 percent of the global population, but they own more than 40 percent of the world’s guns. Americans fascination with guns dates back to the first settlers who left England and settled in the new land. The early Americans used guns as a means to hunt for food and self-protection from wild animals and native people. Later in the American war of independence, guns played an important role. The British army was well equipped and trained, whereas the colonists were mostly ill trained farmers and craft men. However majority of Americans possessed guns which helped them to defeat the British and gain independence.
Gun ownership in the United States is constitutionally protected by the United States Bill of Rights. Firearms are widely used in the United States of America for self-defence, hunting, and recreational uses, such as target shooting. After many massive shooting deaths, there is widespread demand in US for strict control of Gun ownership. While the conservatives demand for gun rights , the liberals stand for stricter gun control. Mateen carried out the bloodiest mass shooting in recent history despite being on the FBI’s radar.The Orlando shooter had been investigated in the past for possible terrorist ties. But there was absolutely no problem for him to buy a deadly assault rifle. .
The number of gun-related deaths in the US is high, especially when compared with the rest of the world. Americans make up less than 5 percent of the global population, but they own more than 40 percent of the world’s guns. What would be the reasons of growing mass murders and violence in the American society? There are many causes of moral degradation, alienation from spiritual life, poor parenting, the careless attitude of society, influence of media, family breakdowns and increased freedom. According to poll results, 45 percent of the U.S. population thinks that the morality of the society is poor, reveals CNN report. A recent study shows that more Americans became atheists and expressed their disbelief in God.
For centuries, the traditional family was the basic building block of American society; however the concept of family is being diluted and corrupted. 2015 became the eight straight year in which 40 percent of or more of the babies born in United States were born to unmarried mothers. In short, the moral values of society worsen because many parents fail to teach children morality. The growing materialism and individualism made people selfish and less consideration for others,. Family breakdowns contribute to moral degradation because they cause children to lose self-respect and respect for others.
Duglas Joseph, Kraisthava Ezhuthupura
duglas2007@gmail.com