The results of the devastating shooting incident at a cinema theatre in Aurora, Colorado, were eerily similar to others of its kind, though the situation, as always, was different.
Twelve people have lost their lives in Friday’s heinous incident and an equal number are fighting to survive as they were shot at in random while settling down to watch a film. There is no doubt that this incident will spark a few pertinent questions in American society with regard to gun control and gun safety. What is most vexing is the fact that while President Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney cancelled their speeches while campaigning to express sorrow for the victims, they, curiously, steered clear of stirring up a debate on the country’s brittle association with guns.
The answer to that is simple: People who advocate gun control have often lost out on their campaign against those who run the powerful gun lobby. It is a battle that Obama and Romney are aware of as they seek the support of their voters, but neither is in the mood to upset the apple cart.
No developed country in the world can claim to have a similar malaise as the one that exists in the US — there are more guns than people in the society. This is a gloomy observation. It is also the reason why there is always a catastrophe waiting to happen as has been evident time and again with unspeakable results.
In sum, it does not appear that hope is on the horizon. Polls show that the percentage of Americans who favour stricter gun control laws has fallen from 78 in 1990 to 44 in 2010. This, sadly, is proof that the writing will always be on the wall.
