Gun free country

My opinion of this week(522)

It was such a big tragedy. A Korean student killed 32 people by gun including students and teaching stuff at Virginia Technical Collge. I was surprised with the news a little bit when I read the news in Maiinichi Newspaper.

The article said and I quote:"The inspecting agency is trying to find out　the motives for the accident. They are investigating how the criminal could get guns he used for mass murder."

"What are you talking about? It is quite easy for American citizens to　get guns in US different from any other countries". I mumbled myself.

I remember the shock when I saw various kind of guns were put on shelves　of gun sale counter at one of a big super market in Berkeley when I lived　there in 1963. Such huge super market store itself was an big surprise for　me. It was just about the time when Daiei, the first Japanese super market　chain in Japan started their business in Kansai district.

The shop sold all sort of goods which were so abundant in quantity. But　my biggest surprise was that various kind of guns were sold at the shop　together with all sort of real bullets. Any people could buy those guns　just by showing some kind of identifification cards.

I understand that various kinds of restrictions have been done as to　the purchase of guns guns even in US since then. But such restrictions　differ from states to states. It is easier to buy guns in some states.　

Virginia may be one of such states where people can buy guns without so　much checks for security.

According to the ABC news in internet, gun stores were making sales　campaigns to sell guns. Sales leaflets says:

・No child safe lock necessary
・No safety lock necessary
・No investigation about the motive to buy guns
・No fingerprint registration necessary to buy guns

The criminal Korean student could have bought some number of guns　without any difficulty at a gun shop in the town. Many other people in many other states can buy guns in US, while a number of　other American citizen are against such cicumstace and insist to　put some stronger restriction to buy guns.

Nevertheless, people and Government authorities are in general still　very generous about gun control. I don't understand about it.

I remember one big tragedy happened for Hattori, a Japanese high　student who visited US in 1992. He was killed by a shot gun when he visited to the house of American for Halloween routine practice.　

The owner of the house warned him to stop approaching to his house　any further. The boy could not understand the word when the owner of　the house appealed to stop him. The boy was killed by the gun.

The owner of the house was arrested and sent to the law court.But　he was released without any serious sentence. The case is typical　example about how Americans in general make judgment as to the use　of guns. They are very generous about it.

Criticisms about such very loose gun control in US have been raised　from various countries of the world including Japan. I just wonder　why Americans are so generous as far as gun control is concerned.

I just ask myself if US is really civilized as a cultural country in
that respect.

2007/4/21
Tadashi HAYASE