Videos Flashcards
Those who have guns are always…
Winners. - “It’s a part of our DNA” part of our culture and quality of life, part of their identity forged in the colonial era - America was founded on the firearm, many see it as a symbol like the American eagle
As gun technology has advanced so has…
so has gun deaths, more Americans have been killed in gun fire in the last 45 years than in all the countries wars combined
Perspectives on Guns
- The average person can reek the same havoc as a group of soldiers
- Guns at socio-genesis of USA
- Sales of guns, licenses & permits has generated a ton of revenue
- “If you own a gun you’re a bad person” after a mass shooting
- There’s something wrong with a society where children are being killed
- How do guns flow into certain communities? It is not accidental
- The gun isn’t the catalyst the violence is the catalyst
Civil War won by North because of gun technology, 50-60 years after US is marked by social violence. Guns are key to how the west was won, helped enforce white supremacy
NRA
(National Rifle Association) in 1871, intention to teach civilians proper gun technique and safety rules for hunting, protecting your family, simulations to train people for unexpected encounters with guns: home invasion scenarios etc… protect America from tyranny, had to be armed to survive
“Tommy Gun”
gun that made the 20s roar, so much money involved in underground liquor market that it became the nexus of a criminal industry – 400+ gang slayings in 1920s, none solved: “St. Valentines Day Massacre” 1929, associates of Al Capone gunned down with a Tommy gun, 7 members were sympathizers of the North End Gang
Wilson & 3D printer
3D printer for gun components that are fully functional, plans to distribute the plans through the internet where anyone can access them – designed for protection but anyone can access them?
“Stand your Ground Law”
“Stand Your Ground” laws: American views. Killing in self defence, honour killings, true man defence
Gun Control
- Control of guns on a National scale, National legislation: Gun Control act of 1934: banning “gangster weapons” followed by establishment of FBI - first response to gun violence by Government
- Until 1941 when WWII changed focused to defeating Germany and innovated new technologies
- After every major episode of war in which the USA was involved leads to an increase of guns and gun sales
- In 50s-60s Americans acquired millions of firearms, also age of the Western where guns involved in media - heroic symbols
- This ended when Lee Harvey Oswald assasinated JFK - people turned to guns for self defense “Black Panther Party” blacks protecting themselves with the same weapons being used against them
- Citizens allowed to carry loaded weapons as long as they were visible
- 1968 gun act: denied weapons to felons, minors and mentally ill
- Hunters switched their focus to gun rights –> New NRA that has political clout because most wanted to keep their gun rights
- 1980s: guns in almost every drug arrest
- Assault weapons ban in 1994, but didn’t cover weapons already on the market
Charles Ramsey: banning assault weapons by themselves will not solve the problem, semi-automatic handguns are usually what is used but it is a good step because they serve no civillian purpose
Samuel Colt & Revolver
Feb 25th 1836: Revolver - homicide rates increase as a result of availability of these
Structural Violence
Significance of structural violence, concept about how societal structures and institutions are set up in ways that breed lack of opportunity for people, denial of employment, education etc… Creates environment where guns come to be important in sense of self, Country in which self-defence weapons are widely distributed and understood to be socially necessary
Levels of Aggression
- Countries that have death penalty have higher rates of homicide than countries that do not have the death penalty. Countries that are overly aggressive at international levels are more aggressive within their own jurisdiction
- Over 5000 gun shows every year in the US, influences voting, economy of fear perpetrated by gun shows: government is coming for you, terrorists, apocalypse
Guns become intrinsic to sense of self and people’s identity, guns are quintessentially American
How are guns bought?
- 99% of guns used in crimes are purchased legally by citizens who can pass background checks, or bought by straw purchases where people with no criminal record purchase guns for the criminals
Most guns bought at gun shows, no event better represents American culture
Joan Burbek: “Gun Show Nation”
Pitch at gun shows is part politics, part history and part patriotism – the other part is fear (your life is endangered unless you buy one)
Necessity of guns
- In the aftermath of Newtown purchases of guns skyrocketed propelled by citizens determined to protect themselves & the threaten of stricter gun laws where guns wont be widely available anymore
- Chicago: 75% of all homicide victims were African-American or Latino, have to carry a badge to legally carry a gun, but plenty of illegal ones
For many young men in gangs, gun is a right of passage
Prevalence of being shot
- Data predicted the first time you were shot you would be shot on average 9 months later, then 9 months after that, the 3rd time you would die
Debate about guns is more than a debate about what to do about them, it is a debate about national identity
