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Guns
For Revolutions
“It
is not the bullet but the intention that kills.”
Humanity has a habit of
slacking long time after achieving short gains. Humanity suffered attrition and
turmoil to bring about the pleasant change in the form of democracy. The power
that was enjoyed by a ruling class, finally ended up in the hand of masses. The
ordinary people, whose only option was to work as peasants on big farms of landlords,
or daily wagers for big businessmen, noblemen and kings, or do petty businesses
like being cobblers or smiths, were finally free to enjoy the boon of
opportunity available freely. An ordinary man, who could in an earlier time,
only dream, could actually make a small start and then build up on it through
his own hard labor, to reach dizzy heights of success. United States of
America, India, and many other democracies around the globe were built by young
enterprising individuals. But how does the time change!
The number of times I’ve
heard during this US election, that America has been built by workers, I wonder
if America is a Socialist country that has been built by workers. Am I wrong? Wasn’t
it the USSR? Isn’t it China? Well, I may be wrong, for I don’t live in US! But
anyway, this article isn’t about communism or capitalism. This article has
emerged out of the current situation that is unfolding in the US. The number of
public shootings that have taken countless innocent lives in US this year; are
turning out to be some sort of a record of numbers now. But what is happening
there, and why?
For a man who firmly
believes that a particular US Politico-Business lobby created the 911 by using
resources made available by friends in crime, just to hard sell a war to
public, that was to be waged on tax-payers money to benefit the tax-evaders, I
smell a rat. What worries me is the cumulative effect these shootings are going
to have on the public perception about guns, and how will that reflect in
changes in legislation. But why am I so concerned about the legislation?
Given the fact that US
already has an unconstitutional act (what I am saying here, if there was one
single intelligent/honest lawyer in US, he/she would have done that in a US
court) in the form of the Patriot act, which enables the government to arrest
and detain any person without evidence or legal remedy, these developments are
even more concerning. To explain the real meaning of the act first, let me just
say; had I been living in US, that act would have been used a long time back to
silence me, simply because I am exposing the lies politicians are telling you,
and my truth hurts their and their associates’ business interests. And I will
have no savior from this act, and why, just because I have a different
democratic belief, or just because I want a better world for ordinary people,
which will be against the business interests of the powerful lobbies that buy
and raise politicians. What a shameful statement it is about the second largest
democracy in the world!
But then that is
exactly why this act is unconstitutional. If an innocent man is held under this
act, there is no way for him to get justice, leave alone prove his innocence. The
fundamental principles of democratic law are; “You are innocent unless until proved
otherwise”, “Even if a hundred criminals escape, not even a single innocent
should get punished”, and, “In cases where you are guilty unless you prove your
innocence, you deserve a fair chance to prove your innocence”. But this act is
contrary to all those principles, all of which are enshrined in constitutions
in the form of fundamental right. Under this act, howsoever long an innocent
person is detained; he neither has a chance to prove his innocence, not is there
a legal remedy available to give him justice for the wrong committed to him. And
even if there were to be a remedy in the form of exemplary costs, the time
spent in detention for no fault of his will never return, even if that happens
to be years, for there is no time limit to the detention as well. This is
against the very fundamentals of democracy and defeats the purpose why our
ancestors shed their blood to get it in first place. The US Constitution has
been publically humiliated and killed by its’ own government! What a shame!
But let me address the
current topic; guns. The number of shootings happening in US right now, they
represent the deteriorating state of mental well being in US, and the reason is
not one. The economic factors can drive an adult crazy, emotional reasons can
do the same to both young and adult, but why so many disillusioned youth? There
is over-aggression, sexism, infidelity and immorality in the content being
aired on television and radio, in movies and songs, and sexist violent video
games. The last two generations of Americans have grown up on a violent
culture. The first signs of mental stress, and the moment they break the result
is chaos and destruction. But will a legislative ban on gun ownership be the
answer?
Look at all the
revolutionary movements happening as a part of “Arab Spring”, which I would
rather term as “Muslim Renaissance”. The people of Arab world are not lucky
enough to have access to guns, so majority of them have been forced to take the
bullet without firing back, as is the case in Syria, or previously in Egypt.
What if the Americans realize tomorrow that their politicians and businessmen
have betrayed them? Are they strong enough to take bullets on their chest
without an access to guns? I am a Sikh! My ninth Guru sat on burning plate, his
followers were boiled in “Deg” (holy dish), some were split open with rotating
toothed wheels, some were cut down piece by piece, the tenth Sikh Guru’s seven
and nine year old sons were bricked alive. I can take a bullet to my head but
not yield on my principles, and still not resort to violence. Are Americans
like me? If not, then you need guns!
So what is the best
solution to the current problem? A very simple answer that solves all the
issues is derived from a simple fact, “A gun is as good as its’ ammunition”.
Americans have a
constitutional right to keep guns, so be it. Allow every American to buy as
many guns as he or she wants to, just limit the amount of ammunition to ten
rounds per person. This ammunition should only be replenished once empty
cartridges of previous ammunition have been handed back, and all the ammunition
used had been accounted for its’ use, and attested by a respectable person. A
person with ten high caliber guns thus will only have ten possible shots. You
haven’t curbed his right to have guns, but you have restricted his abilities to
below the levels required for such shootings. If a person was to go on a public
rampage, he will be aware he can only use nine rounds for he will need one for
self. In case a couple misfire, he will be down to seven, and if a couple miss
the target, he will be down to five. And every shot does not necessarily take
life.
Those who need guns for
self defense, ten shots are more than a plenty. If they need any more
protection, they don’t need more ammunition, rather a professional security
company to take care of their needs. Those who like guns as a sport, they should
only be allowed to use guns provided by and at the shooting ranges. And hunting
should be banned anyway! What are we living in, dark ages?
Dwell a little more on
my suggestion, and you will find it answers all the questions posed by those
against the gun ban, and also gives a fighting chance to the public, in case
their politicians will fail them once and for all.
Now before I close this
article, a few things about “Muslim Renaissance” I referred to above. Europe
had its’ renaissance first, and wherever the Europeans went, they took their
new learning with them. As a result, nations like India, Philippines etc, all
benefited. But the Arab world was left untouched by the European Renaissance
because of the religious differences. European learning was underrated as a
Christian phenomenon and hence, Muslim world remained elusive. What is
happening in Arab nations now is that the people are finally awakening to the
light of democracy, albeit a few centuries late, but they are. Their suffering hasn’t
left me untouched, and I hate the thought of so many innocents getting killed,
but I still don’t want the outside forces to interfere, simply because it will
deny them their renaissance, and weaken their societies.
Their suffering, if it
moves you and me, it sure will move the remainder of their brothers and sisters
to wake up and side with them. Their final victory will be complete, and the
realization of all that will be lost will enhance the value of their new found freedom
and democracy. Their hardships and sufferings will motivate them to strengthen
their society so much that such things won’t happen again. Their self respect
will grow, and their communities will be strengthened by the brotherhood that
will develop.
However if we outsiders
interfere, there will be a section of their society that will believe that they
were attacked and offended. Not only will we make enemies, but their society
will suffer from infighting, and the resulting communities will be both
morally, as well as democratically weak. Remember, “Renaissance is for a nation
what enlightenment is for an individual.” Every society deserves its’
renaissance, and each one has to get it on its’ own through suffering.
Think clearly,
Fatal Urge Carefree
Kiss “Amanpreet Singh Rai”
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