South China Morning Post, Hong Kong

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'Imagine if Chinese Had Access to Guns' Like Americans Do! (Huanqiu, China)

 

Is American society in chaos because of easy access to firearms? According to this surprising editorial from China's state-run Huanqiu, given the number of guns in the United States, the number of fatalities is relatively low. This, according to the newspaper, is thanks to the capacity of Americans for self-governance - a skill that the editorial candidly states, the people of China do not have.

 

EDITORIAL

 

Translated By John Chen

 

September 26, 2013

 

People's Republic of China - Global Times - Original Article (Chinese)

Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old military contractor from Texas, said to be behind America's latest mass shooting.

RUSSIA TODAY NEWS VIDEO: Guns Control or no gun control?, Feb. 24, 00:25:35RealVideo

At the Washington Navy Yard on September 16, a shooting occurred that killed 13 people including the gunman, and 14 were people wounded. The 34-year-old attacker was a former Navy reservist and military subcontractor.

 

After the attack, U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the shooter as a "coward."

 

Shooting incidents have long been a source of pain in America. This recurring issue has brought about a long running debate within U.S. society, but no progress has been made in addressing it. For those of us on the outside, observing the gun issue offers a unique window into American society.

 

After a major shooting, U.S. presidents tend to deliver heart-stirring addresses to the public, but no concrete and resolute measures to resolve the problem ever follows these words. So as society watches these events repeatedly occur, expectations of legislative actions diminish, and people question whether addressing the problem is the responsibility of government at all. As a whole, American society accepts that government is unaccountable on this issue, so people don't expect it "to do something."

 

America attitudes toward gun control are highly fragmented, with one side opposed to any controls at all, no matter how many shootings occur. Advocates of gun control are fragmented even amongst themselves. Hence, the confrontation between the opposing groups makes progress impossible. Gun control is a "hot potato," and the U.S. presidents may at most strike a pose and stay respectfully aloof.

 

If gun control were to be carried out, bringing the 270 million guns in the possession of civilians under effective control would be a major social reform bringing substantial benefits. However, beyond affecting personal habits and enhancing security, it would also touch on the huge economic interests involved in the production and sale of firearms. Outsiders may find this a little strange: with guns responsible for so many deaths, isn't gun control a natural response?

 

The fact is that in the U.S., it is much more complicated than that.

 

First - because there are so many shootings, one might assume that American society is in chaos. The United States is more of a "self-governing" society that holds to "small government." In fact, considering the 270 million guns scattered among the people, 100,000 people shot every year and about 14,000 killed by gunshot wounds is relatively low.

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The differences between American and Chinese societies are huge. Chinese expect the role of government to be big, and for it to take on as much responsibility as possible. While some people in China say they want government to be small, they are not being honest, because in fact, people sometimes say government should be big, and at other times, they say it should be big. There is no clear rule on this, and obviously, it is a very confusing issue.

 

Firearms are strictly prohibited among Chinese civilians, but the number of homemade bombs and weapons is not low. The fact is, however, that Chinese lack a sufficient capacity for self-governance and it is up to government to fill the gap. In China, the administrative costs associated with maintaining the same level of societal security as the United States are higher.

 

 

Imagine what would happen if Chinese civilians were permitted to own guns! Look at what occurred after the stabbing incident involving Chinese students. The Chinese public demanded that the government take fast and decisive action. In the U.S., however, even after repeated shootings on college campuses and public places, society remains relatively calm. Observing this, one quickly concludes that the two countries have vastly different structures for social governance.

 

America has its way of doing things, and so does China. Whatever happens, neither side should engage in schadenfreude. Both sides should show sympathy toward and try to draw lessons from the other. One this is clear: the maintenance of peace and stability in society is what matters most.

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Folha, Brazil: Why Does Half the World Imitate 'Peaceful' Newtown and Aurora?
Guardian, U.K.: Piers Morgan is Right: America's Gun Laws Need Radical Overhaul
O Globo, Brazil: U.S. School Shootings and the 'Externalization of Evil'
Elsevier, The Netherlands: In or Out of America, Gun Laws Cannot Control Sick Minds
News, The Netherlands: Arms Industry Profits or Innocent Life: Americans Have to Choose
022 China, China: From Chenping to Newtown: 'Don't Let Children Go to School in Fear'
Prensa Libre, Guatemala: Cowboys and U.S. Gun Culture: Reaffirming Heroism and War
Estadao, Brazil: Obama Must Follow Victoria Soto: Only Action, Not Tears, Saves Lives
Svenska Dagbladet, Sweden: In Wake of Newtown, Swedes Must Rethink School Openness
La Repubblica, Italy: The Whole World is Newtown
Rzeczpospolita, Poland: No One Dares Deny Americans their Guns
Liberation, France: To 'Prove' Himself, Obama Must Go Beyond Assault Weapons
El Universal, Mexico: Newtown: A Tragedy Foretold
Die Welt, Germany: Turn Kindergarten into Fort Knox? Go Ahead!
Fokgames, The Netherlands: Newtown and Video Games: There in NO Connection!
La Jornada, Mexico: Newtown: Gun 'Barbarism' that Cannot be Removed by Legislation
RDS, Canada: After Newtown Killings, Sport Must Takes a Back Seat to Healing
The Tribune, India: U.S. Must Better Protect Sikhs, Other Religious 'Soft Targets'
IBN Live Video: Indian Sikhs React to Temple Slaughter in Wisconsin
Guardian, U.K.: Sikhs Say Attacks on Community are 'Collateral Damage' of 9/11
The Hindu, India: India seeks more security for religious places in U.S.
Elsevier, The Netherlands: How in the West and East, Mass Murderers are Bred
Liberation, France:America and Firearms: ‘How Many People Have to Die?’
Die Tageszeitung, Germany: The NRA: America's ‘Deadliest’ Lobby
Izvestia, Russia: Batman Shootings Elicit No Fear from Russia Film Execs
Khaleej Times, UAE: Colorado: ‘Big Brother’ U.S. Had Best Tend to its Own House
Saarbruecker Zeitung, Germany: Bloody Acts Like these ‘Cannot Be Prevented’
La Jornada, Mexico: 'Violence and Barbarism' in Retrograde United States
Berliner Morgenpost, Germany: Anders Breivik: Europe's Own Osama bin Laden
Le Quotidien d’Oran, Algeria: The Troubling Profile of a 'Bushian Terrorist'
DNA, France: Terrorism in Toulouse and the ‘Currency of Hate’
Sydsvenskan, Sweden: After September 11, We 'Lost What We Wanted to Defend'
Polityka, Poland: America in Anger's Clutches
Beijing Youth Daily, China: Making Sense of America's Right to Bear Arms
Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany: Virginia Tech One Year On: The 'Silent Scandal'
New Straits Times, Malaysia: Don't Just Blame Virginia Tech …
Kitabat, Iraq: 'Thank Allah the Virginia Killer Wasn't Muslim'
La Jornada, Mexico: Virginaa Tech: An American Tragedy
NRC Handlesblad, Netherlands: Americans Distrust State Monopoly on Violence
JoongAng Daily, South Korea: The Legacy of Cho Seung-hui: A Lesson to Koreans
The Korea Herald, South Korea: Koreans Feel Collective Guilt Over the Massacre
La Jornada, Mexico: Rejecting U.S. Drug War is Essential for Mexico's Survival
Xinjingbao, China: Information Society Triggered Massacre
China Daily, China: A Nation Cannot Be Tarred by a Single Killer
La Jornada, Mexico: The 'Paths of Death' Lead to Washington
La Jornada, Mexico: A Culture of Violence …
O Povo, Brazil: Virginia Tech: Sign of Our Wounded Civilization
Khaleej Times, UAE: Shooting Shows Something Ails America 'At its Core'

Al Watan Voice, Palestinian Territories: Fort Hood: 'Muslims Can't Be Trusted'

Dar Al Khaleej, UAE: America's 'Black Knights' and the Fort Hood Tragedy

Le Temps, Switzerland: 'Double Lesson' at Fort Hood

Khaleej Times, U.A.E. Fort Hood Shooting: 'Don't Pin It on Faith'

Hurriet, Turkey: Shooting at Fort Hood and the Role of Muslim Clerics

The Telegraph, U.K.: British Muslims Debate the Fort Hood Killer

 

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Posted By Worldmeets.US Sept. 25, 2013, 3:49am