Justification of the Use of Weaponry in the American Culture

Pak See Ip
ASA 2 A02
Blog 5

          Darrell Hamamoto’s chapter, “Empire of Death and the Plague of Civil Violence” reminded me of a book that I read for another class, A Rumor of War, which focuses on the soldiers’ experiences during the Vietnam War. Both readings address the psychological issues that soldiers experienced during and after the Vietnam War. These soldiers who became numb to killing unarmed civilians and soldiers of the enemy were then justified and later celebrated as they returned to the U.S. However, this justification of killing “our enemies” in order to “protect our nation” has created the belief that violence is justified when one utilizes it against people who are considered inferior to one.

          It strikes me how mass murder is still prevalent in the society today. This concerns me as the ages of the murderers in recent mass shootings seem to be decreasing, meaning more and more teenagers have access to guns and weapons that may or may not belong to them. As the American culture is justifying the use of weapons against the enemy, it is considered more and more acceptable for one to own any form of weaponry as an excuse to protect oneself from harm.

What is one way to prevent mass murders from happening in our society?

 

Pictured are young soldiers with an average age of 19 during the Vietnam War.