When I first told my friends and family I was moving to Hong Kong, I'm sure they were concerned for my safety, after all I was moving to a region of China. However, as I sit in my living room and watch the news programs from around the world, I can't help but see America differently. It is one senseless killing after another.
I feel safer walking down a dark street in Hong Kong, or even China, than I ever did in America. While standing in line at 7-11, I do not fear that someone may walk in with a gun and start shooting. Gun ownership in Hong Kong is heavily regulated by law. Generally, private citizens are not allowed to possess guns. Guns are used by law enforcement, the military and private security firms. Unrestricted firearms and ammunition requires a license and those in possession without a license could be imprisoned for up to 14 years. So, for Hong Kong, gun control works.
But that doesn't mean gun control can work everywhere. Every country is different. America is the largest manufacturing country of firearms in the world. There are over 5,000 gun shows nationwide annually. Of those registered, there are 88 firearms for every 100 people (remember... "of those registered"). The US has the largest gun ownership rate in the world. In fact, it's nearly 40% higher than Yemen, the country with the second highest gun ownership rate (58 firearms per every 100 people). Those facts are hard to control, perhaps even impossibe.
I have many friends back home that own guns. Of them, most own more than one. They own their guns for the sport of hunting. Even though I do not believe anything should be shot to death for the fun of sport, that is not why I am against guns. I am against guns because they also kill people. I feel we can't have the good (hunting animals, if you're into that...) without the bad (hunting people), when it comes to guns. You could argue that golf clubs have been used to kill and no one seems to be regulating those. Golf clubs may kill, but they are not manufactured to kill. Guns are manufactured, retailed and purchased to kill. People that own guns kill or have the intent to kill ... something.
Personally, I do not want any part of maintaining my rights for ownership of something that does such harm to life. The laws that protect the rights of owning guns also allow killers access to guns. In most cases, killers in America obtained their weapons legally. I am in no way wanting to start a debate on gun control, I just want to shed some light on a different point of view. America learned after 9/11 that they could not stop terrorist, but they did stop planes from being hijacked by terrorist by hiring more Air Marshall's, installed better metal detectors and increased security screenings at airports. The focus was shifted from controlling terrorists TO making air travel safe. So, why can't we stop trying to control gun ownership and start to make schools safe?
Sandy Hooks Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut- 27 killed
Century Movie Theater in Aurora, Colorado- 12 killed
Sikh Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin- 7 killed
Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado- 13 killed
Virginia Tech University- 32 killed
Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen Texas- 23 killed
Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas- 13 killed
Every one of the above massacres took place in a gun free zone, protected by law and enforced by a sign posted in the window near an entrance.
If America can have Air Marshall's on flights, metal detectors and security screenings at airports, why can't children be protected by the same means? It can't be because of money (look at the money spent on the war, money that doesn't exist), so what is the reason? Why must teachers be on constant alert as to where the nearest storage room is located and if it's unlocked for access, if the classroom windows open or if the classroom door can be locked in the event of hearing gunshots or their principal announcing on the PA to take cover? Why do teachers have to worry about these things every minute of every class period?
My heart goes out to every family that lost a loved one at Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday, just 11 days before Christmas. Please remember the victims, not the shooter.
Charlotte Bacon, 6
Daniel Barden, 7
Rachel Davino, 29
Olivia Engel, 6
Josephine Gay, 7
Ana Marquez-Greene, 6
Dylan Hockey, 6
Dawn Hocksprung, 47
Madeline Hsu, 6
Catherine Hubbard, 6
Chase Kowalski, 7
Jesse Lewis, 6
James Mattioli, 6
Grace McDonnell, 7
Anne Marie Murphy, 52
Emilie Parker, 6
Jack Pinto, 6
Noah Pozner, 6
Caroline Previdi, 6
Jessica Rekos, 6
Avielle Richman, 6
Lauren Russeau, 30
Mary Sherlach, 56
Victoria Soto, 27
Benjamin Wheeler, 6
Allison Wyatt, 6
