Can you shun the gun, America?

Another gun shooting incident is upon America. Every time a mad killer goes on a shooting spree, people light candles, place wreaths, mourn, cry, cremate, bury and.........move on. America does not seem to even have a plan to do something in the direction of gun control. The ruling establishment siding in favour of the gun lobby has been going on since the founding of the country with even some Presidents like Theodore Roosevelt (president of the USA from March 1933 till April 1945) openly siding with the lobby.

 (image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun)

There have been no honest and heartfelt attempts made by the country to control arms. Anyone, virtually anyone, can buy a gun. Once a gun is at home, then any person can use it. Recently, an arms cache of upto 50,000 firearms was found at a house. How can one buy so much? I don't accept the argument that Hollywood movies glorifying the gun culture. One cannot blame them as they only mirror the society. It is virtually a free for all. Arms sales are only on an upward spiral in America year on year.

I remember during a very short official trip to Washington in November 2010, we wanted to go and have dinner at a nearby Indian restaurant. While we were walking during the course of our search, we met a person from Mangalore on the way. He identified the place for us and also told us not to go beyond certain precincts. "They have guns," he said, "And once they show the gun, you are at their mercy." Certainly. If one shows a knife or a sickle and you can atleast run. But can you run from a gun? Or, what are your chances of dodging a bullet?

Thankfully, in India, atleast having firearms and explosives is heavily controlled under the Explosives Act / Rules and related legislation on arms control.

The gun lobby is active in America and funds a lot of political campaigning. Hence it becomes difficult to bring in legislation for gun control, no matter whoever is in power. I remember, in 2006-07, I and my friend were perusing a report about 53 unsolved murders in a month in a part of Los Angeles alone. When you can fire at will and leave, how many can the authorities track?

Can there be a people's movement? I doubt that happening because everytime there is a shooting someone feels unsafe. Statistics show that after every shooting rampage, there is an increase in sale of guns.

What is needed is a strong will to bell the cat. But America is in too much into this that I don't see it happening anytime at all.