In the essay shootings (2007), the author Adam Gopnik has highlighted pertinent issues of mass shootings that plague the United States, and he also discusses the various legal and social factors leading to the incident that took place at Virginia Tech. The incident at Virginia Tech is among a continuum of events which have taken place in the United States, and it highlights some of the concerns raised about gun enforcement in the country. In the essay, the author presents an approach that the US should adapt to curb the recurrent issue of gun violence. The author has researched the US society and ascertained all the steps that lawmakers need to adapt to solve the gun problem. While the United States is among the strongest nations in the world, it has some social issues that it should address and resolve. Indeed, Gopnik has achieved to pass across his message not only rhetorically, but in a way, which expounds the need of the US to prioritize the issue of gun violence. Evidently, while acknowledging that the US has more gun violence than other countries, the author highlights that if the US has to win the issue of gun violence. Indeed, the US should not label gun violence a social problem instead it should follow a multidimensional approach which, first, makes it difficult to buy guns that kill people through amending laws on gun ownership, second, viewing gun violence as a political agenda and a legal issue that requires political and legal interventions such approaches will reduce gun violence.
The perception of the world that America experiences more gun violence is a fact as the US has more guns and are willing to sell them to lunatics that end up killing others. While all nations across the globe have loners, there are different approaches which these countries have made to reduce the acquisition of guns by the loners. For instance, in an incident that took place in Dunblane, Scotland in 1996, after a lone gunman killed school children, the British gun laws were restricted (Gopnik, para. 4). Presently, it is against the British gun laws to use the type of guns used by the gunman at Virginia Tech. In another instance that took place in Quebec that took the lives of fourteen women, the survivors led to the legislation of stronger gun laws to Canada (Gopnik, para. 4). While comparing the British approach and the US approach, the author proposes the best method which the US needs to adapt to curb the killings. However, in giving his proposition on the proactive measures that the US should choose, Gopnik assumes that the gun laws in Britain and Canada are similar to those in the US. For the US to achieve the same level of sanity found in France, Britain, and Canada, then it needs to scrap the 2nd amendment. In sum, Gopnik captures all that needs to be done by the US government to end the spate of gun violence.
On reading the essay, it is evident that the author, Adam Gopnik, expounds on the various approaches adopted across the world. Certainly, there exist two attitudes toward the issue of gun violence. One is the American society, and the other is the global perspective, however, while the rest of the world analysis the instances of gun violence, the American society primary focus in on those factors leading to the incident rather than take affirmative actions geared towards amending the laws regulating gun ownership (Gopnik, pars.6-8). The author, Gopnik has reflected upon the ignorance of the politicians towards the issue of gun violence as the incidents of mass shootings have taken place in the US sometimes. Evidently, what makes the issue of gun violence in the United States to stand out is the lack of a multidimensional approach by the society and lawmakers to stop the menace. Whereas in counties like Britain and Canada have come up with successful legislation, which has reduced the instances of gun violence in those countries. However, in the US society, the author avers that they only discuss the social issues which lead to the vice without the presence of affirmative actions towards forcing the government to amend the firearms laws in the country (Gopnik pars.6-8).
Further, the American government has come up with those factors, which predispose them to the mass shooting which include; mental illness, narcissism, and pressure on the students. As a result, in the US society, the author Gopnik highlights the community and politicians believe the only solution to gun violence is through “healing” rather than “treating.” By this Gopnik means that every time there are instances of gun violence in the United States, the primary focus is always on the predisposing factors rather than taking a multi-dimensional approach. Indeed, the discussions primarily delve on treating mental illness in the Universities, eradicating violence in media and pop-culture (Gopnik, para. 2). However, the lawmakers should allow themselves to ponder about means of reducing the availability of firearms that can be easily misused for mass shootings. Certainly, in the US there is no American particularity about loners, disenfranchised immigrants, the alienated youths, or evil (Gopnik, para. 5). However, there exists an American peculiarity about gun ownership despite various mass shootings taking place to warrant restrictive gun laws. Therefore, the author proposes that making it more difficult to buy guns is the most rational way of reducing the number of people that die because of gun violence in the United States.
Clearly, while guns such as Glocks and Walthers are banned in other nations, it begs the questions why the US has not taken any proactive measures to amend the laws and therefore make the society safer. The author also acknowledges that banning guns may not bring a lasting solution to the US. In some regions in the US, they need guns and firearms for hunting purposes. While the government can control the use of assault weapons, there is no guarantee that someone cannot shot with a semi-automatic pistol (Gopnik, para. 7). Further, another issue that arises is that by controlling the use of semi-automatic pistols this cannot reduce the chances of someone killing people with a rifle. Therefore, in such regions, the US policymakers should come up with laws which limit the sale and purchase of guns, which can cause harm to others. The US should have an approach which addresses the issue once and for all rather than come up with short-term goals. As a result, recurring incidents can be prevented from occurring in the future.
Conclusion
Undeniably the US needs to work on its gun laws, which govern firearms ownership. Based on this, the author has highlighted some of the approaches that the US policymakers can adopt which include. First, making it hard for people to access guns. Second, rather than viewing gun violence as a social issue, the US government should approach it as a legal and political problem. As a result, the policymakers can come up with legislation that fit in the US society geared towards ending mass shooting. Indeed, Gopnik has successfully highlighted the reason for the adoption of a comprehensive solution to the recurrent issue.
Works Cited
Gopnik, Adam. Shootings. New Yorker. 2007, April 30.
