Why is the USA called a gun nation

PART 2 : WHY IS THERE A GUN CULTURE IN THE USA?

THE HISTORICAL EXPLANATION : why did people start using guns?
THE USA is a nation of gun fighters
- It is part of their culture because they carried guns to protect themselves
against
wild animals, Native Americans, thieves= bandits
- During the conquest of the west they needed a gun to fight against a
wild world
They passed the 2ND AMENDMENT in 1791: the 2nd amendment says that
all
AMERICANS have the right to carry a gun
What qualities are associated with guns?
Guns still symbolize power, courage, strength, manhood (virilit) like in
westerns and
other movies; to carry a gun is to be strong
In movies, heroes often have a gun as a sign of their manhoood
THE SOCIAL EXPLANATION : why do people use guns? What makes some
young people
violent?
poor people live in inner cities = ghettoes and violence prevails (rgne)
there; they
own guns to feel powerful and to feel safer (for examples in places where
there are a
lot of gangs )+ many people are influenced by what they see on TV;
children want to
imitate their heroes; it is said video games are also a cause for violence
THE POLITICAL EXPLANATION what are the NRA and the HCI? What is the
link between the
NRA and political parties
-the NRA= NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION (4 million members) subsidizes (
subentionne) the Republican party and is extremely powerful and
influential in the
US; it spent almost 6 million dollars against Obama; politicians dont want
to fight
against the NRA because they need their money
It organizes annual meetings and sponsors education programmes: it is
very influential
It organizes gun shows where you can buy guns
It organizes youth days: children can become free members of the NRA
The slogan of the NRA is guns dont kill people, people kill people
It means that only mad people kill the others for no reason
But normal people must have the right to carry a gun to defend
themselves
They dont understand that the 2nd amendment dates back to 1871 , a
time when guns were
needed

- THE HCI = HANDGUN CONTROL INCORPORATION

It has fewer members only 150,000 it is in favour of gun control but not as
powerful as the
NRA; they cant really fight against the NRA
Places and forms of power
Gun control in the U.S.A
A divided society

Introduction

To discuss the notion of Places and Forms of Power, I'm going to present the situation of Gun Control in the
USA.
Indeed, when we think of power, the influence of weapons in the USA plays a major part in the society.
The history of the country shows that the Americans have always felt the need to be armed, but we may
wonder why, and eventually we'll see that the society is deeply divided on this topical issue, with the
supporters of the right to bear an arm as it is written in the 2 nd Amendment of the American
Constitution on the one hand mainly represented by the members of the NRA, and the opponents on the
other hand, or rather the people in the USA who would like a restriction of the law, so that it couldn't so
easy to get a gun in their country. The association Demand a plan for example.

1st part
The history of the USA and why do the Americans feel the need to own a gun.
2nd part
A divided society
Conclusion and personal opinion

One of the most intense debates in America: gun control. In 2005, the Gallup research organization
reported that about three in ten Americans had a gun. Some Americans want more limits on the kinds of
weapons and equipment ordinary citizens can have. A number of recent shootings have only intensified the
debate.

President Obama named some recent victims of gun violence in his State of the Union speech to Congress
and the nation in February 2013. They included a 15-year-old girl in Chicago, a member of Congress in
Arizona, elementary school children in Connecticut and people at a movie theater in Colorado. President
Obama
called
on
Congress
to
vote
on
gun
control
measures.
Gabby

Giffords

The

families

The

families

deserves
of
of

Newtown

a
deserve

Aurora

deserve

vote.
a

vote.

vote.

The families of Oak Creek, and Tucson, and Blacksburg, and the countless other communities ripped open by
gun violence they deserve a simple vote.

But British writer Edward Davies says there is nothing simple about the issue of gun control. Mr. Davies
writes about America for BMJ, the British Medical Journal. He does not favor a particular position on the
issue.
"Its interesting. Its complicated, and theres no right answer, is whats slowly emerging as far as I can
see."
Mr. Davies sees American history, including the Second Amendment to the Constitution, as the driving
force
in
the
dispute.
The Second Amendment reads: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,
the
right
of
the
people
to
keep
and
bear
Arms,
shall
not
be
infringed.
Gun rights supporters -- and the Supreme Court -- say the amendment guarantees individuals the right to
own a gun. Gun control activists say the amendment was meant to guarantee states the right to organize
militias for defense.

The National Rifle Association represents at least 3.5 million gun owners and manufacturers. The NRA
strongly supports gun ownership rights. It said the proposed government-supported research was an
attempt to win public support for gun control.

Since the Sandy Hook shootings, several groups have suggested measures to reduce gun violence. Some
activists are pushing for a ban on certain kinds of guns, such as the military-style assault rifles used at
Sandy Hook and in other mass shootings. Activists also want to ban ammunition magazines that hold a large
number of bullets. They argue that ordinary citizens do not need these kinds of weapons, even for hunting
animals
or
for
their
own
safety.
Yet

gun

rights

advocates

say

guns

are

not

A gun is a tool. The problem is the criminal. Criminals operate outside the system.

the

problem.