Unfortunately, there have been two recent shootings in Oregon and Connecticut.
Recent posts on Facebook and discussions have centered on the need for more gun control in the US. Some people in other countries, such as Japan post how Japan has no shooting crimes because guns have been outlawed there. These posts and sentiments frustrate me as everyone is missing the bigger picture.
In Japan, while there may not be shooting crimes, you can find in the paper daily reports of people stabbing other people. In China, there are plenty of stories of women throwing acid on other women.
The point is that it’s not the weapon or the control of weapons that should be the topic of discussion. It’s a human and societal issue that should be discussed. At what point does it become okay in someone’s mind to take the life of another human being because of his/her own, personal and individual unhappiness? It’s not like this is a new human quality – people have been killing other people for years.
However, when did children find it reasonable and be allowed to bully and take revenge upon their parents who are supposed to be the providers and supporters of their livelihood? When did a man find it reasonable to kill a woman because she hurt his feelings? When did a woman find it okay to ruin the life of another woman out of jealousy?
Shouldn’t we be discussing the more important issues of what it means to value human life? Or what it means to take out your hurt feelings on another person?
It just seems to me that it’s the easy and lazy way out to blame it on a weapon, which has no power except in the hands of a human….
-T
