Reading: Hamamoto Empire of Death
The article mentioned several ideas regarding murder and the context of mass and serial killing that I believe ties into a larger issue: as the complexity of society grows, the consequence of human predicaments increase along with it. Robert K. Ressler notes that as media connects people, it also highlights the feeling of alienation amongst others. Similarly, I once listened to a North Korean refugee speak about how North Koreans have a general feeling of happiness, as they are pit together in order to survive, and built a community surrounding the necessity of survival. The refugee said that feeling stress is a privilege. Although many issues, including mass murder, serial killing, and mental illnesses, have always existed, even before industrial revolutions, and the cause of a perceived increase in the number of people suffering from such issues may be due to more recognition in those areas, I still believe the ability to focus on anything other than immediate approaches to life and death is a sign of a more sophisticated society, and such consequences emerge with it. I also found it interesting how the increasing militarized country had a correlation with the increase in violence and deaths within the country. What media portrays has a stronger effect on people than people consciously realize.
As seen in the image, the current murder rate is significantly below the country's all-time high, causing people to argue that people are overreacting by demanding gun bans due to the many public shootings that occurred in 2017 and 2018. However, the rates are increasing, and there's a possibility that it will surpass previous records, so why let it reach a point where it's too late? Regardless of where the US is at in murder rates, guns remain a threat to civilians and allow predators easy kills against others. People claim they want firearms for self-defense and a sense of security and form of protection, but have no training as to how to use a gun. Even if there were an attacker, how many people can confidently say they can accurately hit the offender and disarm them without causing any unnecessary casualties? Banning guns altogether will relieve the stress and fear of a school or public shooter for everyone. Although I recognize figures that would cause school or public shootings would find another way to hurt people aside from guns, taking away one of their easiest weapons should be a positive choice. Although banning guns may not solve the core of the issue that surrounds the psyche of individuals, it is an apprehensive stance that should have been taken a long time ago. Instead of the incredible funding that goes toward the firearms industry, there should be more funding in mental health and awareness, providing education and treatment for those in need, without them having to feel ashamed in asking or recieving help. And if the government is worried about the damage the economy would receive by the ban, they could make it a temporary ban.
Question: If the US banned firearms, would the correlation between foreign wars and domestic massacres and violence still exist?
Work Cited:
Asher, Jeff. (Sept. 25, 2017) The U.S. Murder Rate Is Up But Still Far Below Its 1980 Peak. Retrieved from https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-u-s-murder-rate-is-up-but-still-far-below-its-1980-peak/
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