By Ira Sharkansky
JERUSALEM–It’s hard to know whether to smirk, guffaw, dismiss as not surprising and more of the same, or bemoan the dimming of American civilization due to a recent article in the New York Times about legislation in Georgia and other states in behalf of guns.
The article describes a wave of pro-gun legislation in various US states that would allow the carrying of weapons in bars, airports, shopping centers, schools and college campuses, all justified as means of defense against other gun carriers. The wave overcomes an uptick in anti-gun initiatives due to one or another of the gruesome mass shootings. Whether the backdrop is Newtown, Virginia Tech, Columbine, a McDonalds or a mail sorter going postal, the response seems destined to be more rather than fewer guns, and–thanks to Stand Your Ground laws–individuals ready to shoot.
The confusion of federalism is part of the citizen’s problem. The plurality of possibilities and conditions is baffling, compared to what prevails in most other places claiming to be enlightened, where there is a national regime that defines what is permitted and forbidden.
America’s rate of murder is more than twice as high as its nearest competitor among western democracies, and more than four times that of other places. Yet because crime is one of the justifications for the pro gun laws, it may be pointless to compare murder rates with gun ownership. Insofar as violence is as American as apple pie, more guns means more deaths and then even more guns.
Looking for another horrible example of bizarre government, it is tempting to cite Malaysia, America’s gun friendly legislation is as much a stain on the national reputation as is Malaysia’s incapacity to explain what happened to one of its planes and 226 passengers, if indeed, it got that number correct.
A few states and localities have instituted gun buyback programs, but they pale in comparison to gun exchange opportunities which show up when Googling buyback. Gun exchange encourages the trading up to something more powerful or easier to use.
With the US having almost as many guns as people, and twice as many guns per capita as the closest western democracy, it may be too late to cope with the combination of fire arms and violence.
The political weight of the National Rifle Association, the economic weight of manufacturers and retailers, and a problematic reading of the Constitution are part of the story.
Years ago I had some limited success with The United States: A Study of a Developing Country. It dealt with the retarded south, the urban and rural underclasses, and my home town of Fall River. In the 1950s, the average adult in that city of about 100,000 population had only 8 years of education, and 30 percent of my age cohort did not finish high school. Recent data shows some progress, but not much. Now the average adult has 9 years of education, and some 28 percent quit school before graduation.
Along with being the world center for technological innovations, finance, and consumer luxuries, the United States has large segments with dismal social indicators. The South is more like the rest of the country than it was a half century ago, but still has higher scores on poverty, crime, and illiteracy. A Black family in the White House does not make up for the western world’s most troubled ghettos. The US may have more personal motor vehicles per capita than any other country, but it is also a leader in drug use, and the catastrophes associated with it.
American achievements in medical research and innovations is coming up against the prospect of failure in implementing a long delayed catch up in the field of medical delivery. The nasty combination of political opposition, and bungling implementation may leave as many as 30 million Americans without health insurance.
Insofar as the US has lost the war against drugs as well as guns, it may be best to think of another spurt of prohibition gone bad, legalize the stuff and save all the money spent on interdiction, law enforcement and imprisonment. Let those Americans who wish to drug themselves to death join those who eat themselves and smoke themselves to death, and concentrate on the more promising elements of society.
Campaigns may help against drugs and eating, as they have with respect to smoking. Enforcement doesn’t work, and has bad side effects.
The New York Times article about an increase in pro-gun legislation brings back the images of the Wild West and Chicago gangsters, as opposed to that side of the United States that has seen the ascendance of women, Blacks and other minorities into the upper occupational strata, a growing concern for the environment, and at least the prospect of national health insurance.
The US remains a complex and fascinating place. Much of it is groping to reach what Europeans achieved years ago, while other elements claim to be at the summit of western civilization.
Somewhat disturbing is a national leadership that lectures the rest of us how to behave.
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Ira Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted at ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com San Diego Jewish World seeks sponsorships to be placed, as this notice is, just below articles that appear on our site. This is an ideal opportunity for your corporate message or to personally remember a loved one’s contributions to our community. To inquire, call editor Donald H. Harrison at (619) 265-0808 or contact him via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
Interesting but irrational association between the decline of the US due to private firearms possession in relation to the drug epidemic. There is no virtue accorded to those overwhelmingly legal and responsible gun owners, who comprise 99.9% of the gun owning population in the US. Criminals are violent by need, impulse and profession, so their use of firearms is categorically irrelevant to the compelling record of private firearms use. This includes that always ignored self defense of property, and humans alike by just brandishing a firearm not resulting in injury or death. The most hoplophobes of individuals and organizations that are honest will concede that these events far out strip actual criminal deaths and injuries by illegal and negligent use of them.
Unless the anti-gun advocates in the US begito also include the many positive uses for firearms ini our society, instead of religiously hammering on about the negative uses, there can nev be any understanding or dialogue between the camps.
History is an excellent teacher and teacher if honestly assessed, and just like the “war” on drugs, which has been politically and culturally a horrendous debacle, what do you think if you will think honestly, will happen with the criminalisation of private firearms possession the US? Think massive, uncontrollable black market, such as Great Britain currently experiences. History will repeat the unlearned lesson from drugs with secere escalation of the the black market for firearms. Count on it! criminals do n ot obey the law, and making the law favor black market is insanity.
While I respect the intent of your article, I do not respect your casual, uninformed and manipulative echoing of the same old cliches that ridding the US of guns will solve the problem of violence. This is dishonest, and unethical.
If you want to affect the issue of accidental firearms injuries and deaths, teach the young people about firearms, their legitimate place in society and their dangers so they are properly informed. You would insist on this with evy other social threat, so why n ot firearms.
As far as private possession of firearms, I am surprised that you do not object to the significant arming of private citizens in Isreal? The Isrealis understand the profound difference between responsible firearms owenrhip and use and illegal, criminal use.
Turn to an honest appraisal in your bully pulpit and you might find some positive reaction from gun owners.
Bob Naess
Maybe it’s because I was raised in the retarded south but I don’t share his Utopian vision of a nation regime granting me permission to take a dump.
This country has been willfully destroyed and it had NOTHING TO DO WITH GUNS..
17 Trillion in debt, not to mention unfunded liabilities..
Jobs shipped over the decades thru premature/unfair Trade Treaties..
Open borders for decades with at least 50 million illegal aliens taking jobs and collecting welfare..
The final nail is disarming the population so to leave families defenseless in their homes!!
Lets get it CORRECT………..
Excuse me? Restoring the original constitutional rights of the republic constitutes a DECLINE?
What planet are you from?
As a Jew I would have thought that you would have learned from history the importance of firearms and understand that they have both positive and negative uses. Cutting back firearm ownership, even in the “retarded south”, will only embolden criminals who know their victims are unable to efficiently fight back. It is sad that people, even political science professors, fail to learn from history.
Your stats are not correct and are mis-leading. Since you did not give your source, I can assume that they are probably some of the made-up things that people like MAIG and Brady groups keep saying. As if a lie if told enough times becomes believable. As a mater of fact based on FBI stats we are at a 30 year low for all violent crime including murder. We are also based on government estimates at a all time high for gun ownership and gun carry.
The law changes in some of the more enlightened states like GA, are a course correction aimed at getting back to the principals that our founders described in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The anti-gun laws have been proven to not make the country safer but less safe and weaker. So, if you look at the bigger picture the issue is not really about guns but about control. All power in the US comes from “The People” with the understanding that government is the servant of “The People”. The gun laws are just one way that government has over stepped and become the “master” not the servant. You might listen to the phone call with the CT police officer that made that exact statement over the recent CT attack on civil rights.
Source: http://www.wnd.com/2014/03/gun-grabbing-cop-goes-ballistic-im-the-master/
It doesn’t show us decline, is shows a court system that is failing to deal with the criminal element!