Editorial: The United States is a great country, but it has shocking flaws – none more damaging than its failure to control gun violence
The United States is a great country but it has shocking flaws, none more damaging than its failure to control gun violence.has again splashed this madness inside the US on television screens around the world.
The US is suffering a terrible epidemic of gun deaths and gun suicide. They are now the single biggest cause of death for children and adolescents. It is currently blocking two bills in Congress that would close loopholes which allow many people to buy guns without a background check.The gun control debate has morphed into a sick culture war in which the gun lobby claims it is defending the inalienable rights of people in the name of freedom or the constitution or the American way.
The gun debate in the US also underlines the importance of looking at hard evidence in formulating policy. Pro-gun advocates have tried to deflect calls for gun control by proposing better security at schools, the arming of teachers and more screenings for mental health. Yet they ignore the overwhelming evidence, not least here in Australia, that restricting the supply of guns has an immediate effect.