Gun Games

I am starting out my first write up in G+ e Blogger and was thinking what I should write about. My mind is filled with images of the fearful people talking on the phone, children crying, teachers in shock, police vans everywhere. The advantage of technology is such that I am able to sit in India and look at the images captured post the shoot out in CT. I have some understanding for lack of better word of what might have happened. I have personally witnessed a shoot out while I was in NY, my first trip to the states and have been part of those lucky ones who walked out without getting hurt.

While I was reading up this article in various websites I came across some startling facts. Each country has had their share of history when it comes to shoot outs. Handgun killings in Japan - 48, Britain - 8, Switzerland - 34, Canada - 52, Israel - 58, USA - 10,728. Would you now say you want to pick up a gun for your own protection? Well that is debatable and can be a long one. In the United States along more than 40% of people accounted for owning a gun in the late 1900. Althought most of these sales are through licenced owners a big percentage goes through secondary market where in the sales are to youths. At present the licenced sellers do not sell hand helds to people below 21 and long guns to below 18. They might eventually go the secondary market.

The US govt has included many restrictions and initiated many community programs, intervention programs, project safe neighbourhood and many more to modify some of the behaviour patters, environment etc. This is always a work in progress effort..... again debatable.  Gun control is eventually going to become an heated point of discussion in the next few weeks. I am sure I will get to read more articles on this. Will I blog about it? I dono.. but for your further reading if this does interest you, please find some references below

Roleff, Tamara. ‘Gun Control (Opposing Viewpoints). Greenhaven. 2007
Bruce, John. ‘The Changing Politics of Gun Control’. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. 1998.
Cook, Philip J. ‘Gun Violence: The Real Costs (Studies in Crime and Public Policy)’. Oxford University Press. 2002
Cornell, Saul. ‘A Well-Regulated Militia: The Founding Fathers and the Origins of Gun Control in America’. Oxford Universitry Press. 2008.

For all those who have gotten injured or even lost their loves ones in the shooting that took place CT my heart goes out to you and your family. Pray that their souls will rest in peace.