BLURB
People outside the US wonder why the government cannot ban or restrict sale of firearms, but people within the US fiercely defend the right to bear arms, which is guaranteed by the constitution.
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It is tempting to write that after the Orlando shooting, which claimed the lives of 50 persons, America will never be the same again. But that would be false, because after Americans come to terms with the massacre or terror attack, or the act of a very angry and deranged man, the US will return to its usual ways. Because in America it is easier to ban Muslims than guns. It’s a tragedy greater than the one which unfolded in the wee hours in Orlando.
The shooting at a gay club, which seemed surprisingly easy for Omar Mateen, is difficult to understand, especially for those located outside the US and bred on Hollywood movies that depict the FBI and police as a sophisticated, determined and successful bunch. It is difficult to understand how Mateen, who was twice flagged down by the FBI for likely contact with terrorist groups, could legally purchase an assault rifle and amass enough ammunition to kill at will. Minutes before he went on a rampage he called 911 to say something about his allegiance to the ruthless ISIS. After that it was blood and gore. Mateen was shot after the club was raided by a SWAT team. The horror of what had happened there is not easy to assimilate and even hardened law enforcers cringed.
About 40,000 people die from gun violence each year in the US and the place is still awash with guns. In 2013 about 10.8 million guns were made in the US, practically all for the domestic market. According to some studies, the US has 88 guns for every 100 residents, the highest in the world. It is said that it is easier to buy a gun that a beer in America. Even Pakistan, which is the terrorist capital of the world, has lesser guns. The UK for instance has 6.2 firearms per 100 people and zero number of shooting in 2015. So, while people outside the US wonder why the government cannot ban or restrict sale of firearms, people within the US fiercely defend the right to bear arms, which is guaranteed by the second amendment to the constitution. And when Brad Pitt says he feels safer if he has a gun hidden somewhere in the house, the US is more likely to cheer than boo him. It’s difficult to fathom, if you are not American.
The Orlando shooting is definitely a terror attack in every sense of the term, but it does not look like one inspired by religion. Mateen was not a migrant. On the contrary he was born in New York and his rage was probably fueled by local issues than external ones. The brutal methods of the ISIS might have inspired him, but there is no evidence to scream ‘Islamic terrorism’ unless you are Donald Trump, then you can scream anything.
What is significant though is that the killer was investigated twice for possible links with terror organisations. In the first instance, Mateen came under the FBI scanner when he made inflammatory statements to co-workers indicating possible terrorist ties. He was interviewed twice and kept under surveillance, but the investigation was eventually dropped. The following year he was interrogated for possible ties with an American suicide bomber Moner Mohammad Abusalha, but let off for lack of evidence. But despite this he was cleared for purchasing a gun.
How many more US citizens need to be mowed down by guns before their leaders pick up the courage and strength to being a clean-up?
