'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.
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.
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.
