French questions about Gun Control
In the wake of the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech, several of my friends here have talked to me about the violence they see in American society. One of the strongest questions they bring up concerns our level of gun control. Apparently, on the French news coverage of the VA Tech rampage, they reported that in Virginia a 12 year old can purchase a revolver. I can’t say I’m very familiar with the gun laws of Virginia (or Maryland for that matter); however, I did some research and the legal age for VA is 21 to purchase handguns (although there is no waiting period).
The French have several main problems with our gun control policies (or lack thereof). One, they don’t understand how each state can have such varying laws when we are one unified country (this same argument comes up with capital punishment, as well). It seems very “willy-nilly” to them that each state can set its own policies for such a major issue like gun ownership, especially where there is no border patrol from state to state.
Secondly, they don’t understand why anyone “needs” a handgun, since they aren’t traditional “hunting” arms. People hunt here in France, although, I don’t think it’s a popular sport here. The French I’ve talked to have mentioned that they can understand animal population control—hunting deer to keep from being taken over. They understand hunting predatory animals, like coyotes and wolves, which endanger cattle herds. They understand feeding a family through winter by hunting your own meat. They do not understand handguns, which seem only to serve as a means to inflict violence on another person.
I know that this is a raging debate in the States, all the more in an election year. I have never expressed strong opinions on either side. I don’t know what the answers are, but I hope that in the future these types of massacres on school campuses can be prevented.
The French have several main problems with our gun control policies (or lack thereof). One, they don’t understand how each state can have such varying laws when we are one unified country (this same argument comes up with capital punishment, as well). It seems very “willy-nilly” to them that each state can set its own policies for such a major issue like gun ownership, especially where there is no border patrol from state to state.
Secondly, they don’t understand why anyone “needs” a handgun, since they aren’t traditional “hunting” arms. People hunt here in France, although, I don’t think it’s a popular sport here. The French I’ve talked to have mentioned that they can understand animal population control—hunting deer to keep from being taken over. They understand hunting predatory animals, like coyotes and wolves, which endanger cattle herds. They understand feeding a family through winter by hunting your own meat. They do not understand handguns, which seem only to serve as a means to inflict violence on another person.
I know that this is a raging debate in the States, all the more in an election year. I have never expressed strong opinions on either side. I don’t know what the answers are, but I hope that in the future these types of massacres on school campuses can be prevented.