Page 26 - Awemainta

26 AWEMainta Diasabra, 12 December 2015

Some thoughts about the aftermath of the
Terrorism attacks in San Bernardino, the

media, and social policy

Pidiendo disculpas a los que no leen inglés, no hemos tenido tiempo para traducir este artículo;
Pedendo desculpas àqueles que não lêm inglês, faltou-nos o tempo para traduzir o artigo

By Dr. Peter Tarlow

THE MOST recent successful authorities? Thus, security officials the right to own a gun. Both point to the fact that US cities that
terrorist attack in San and tourism security official have interpretations can be debated. have stringent gun control laws
Bernardino, California raises not almost become “hostages” to a What has become clear is that the such as Chicago, or Washington,
only a number of security issues false political narrative. In other right to posses a gun speaks to DC have a much higher murder
but also issues on the media and words has liberalism sown the the heart of safety and security rate. From their perspective the
public policy. The results of this seeds or its own destruction? If media pick and choose which
debate may have a great impact on so, can industries such as tourism For those who believe that the incidents become newsworthy
the tourism and travel industries. that depend on liberal thought and US needs a national policy of based on political rather
policies survive? gun control, they point to the than moral or scientific needs.
There is no doubt that these attacks Found below are a few of the issues fact that guns have one purpose
casued media frenzy. Major news revolving around the above points. and one purpose alone, the The current debate is not
outlets in the US and Europe These are not meant to be extensive taking of a life, be that the life about the interpretation of the
dedicated whole days to the but rather thought provoking. of an animal or other human US II amendment but rather what
attack. In fact, they created a They paragraphs below contain being. The extreme argument type of arms should be legal or
sense of national or international few answers but many pose goes that no one needs a gun illegal. Those pushing for gun
panic. If terrorists seek publicity many questions. They are intended and that allowing free access control argue that there is no need
and provoke public fear, then we to force tourism officials to ask to guns only permits deranged for private citizens to have assault
are forced to ask the question: provocative questions and to make people to posses the instrument weapons (it is not clear which
have the media become unwilling everyone in the tourism industry through which they can harm or guns are not assault weapons)
allies of the terrorists? Certainly consider how there are few simple murder innocent victims. Gun and that people who are on the
no one would question that answers to a changing world scene. control advocates also point to US no-fly list should be banned
this attack, at least in the US, the fact that in heated arguments, from purchasing weapons. Gun
was a major news story. The Gun Control having easy access to a gun control advocates note that the
question becomes: how do the The recent Presidential address may result in a non-reversible US has a higher murder rate than
media do their job without underscores the fact that the tragedy and that it is much easer many other developed nations and
reinforcing the terrorist narrative United States is divided on the to take the life of another human that these murder rates impact
and without becoming its own issue of gun control. As noted in being with a gun rather than with not only lives but also the nation’s
news story? Besides the tragic loss previous articles the issue stems other weapons such as a knife economic wellbeing.
of life, this most recent terrorist from the 2nd Amendment to
attack has raised a number of the US constitution. There is For those who oppose gun Those on the other side of
public policy questions. Some no question that the United States control, they point out that the the current argument argue
of the questions pertain to the is divided on the issue of gun criminalization of guns will not that (1) the no fly list is nothing
US and other questions may control. The issue stems from prevent them but only assure more than a bureaucratic listing
have international significance the 2nd Amendment to the US that law-abiding citizens are now often containing numerous
and impact tourism for years constitution. The amendment helpless. They note that schools, mistakes and even it even includes
to come. Among these are: reads as follows: “A well regulated and other gun free zones, are often government officials who work in
1) Sin the US should there be militia, being necessary to the targeted and wonder if deranged security! In fact over 70 people
additional gun control and if security of a free state, the right minds or criminals know that who work for the Department of
so, how much and what type of of the people to keep and bear schools are open targets. They Homeland Security are currently
gun control? arms, shall not be infringed.” In also note that Paris has some of on the no-fly list. Often names are
2) Should the US remain an reality no one knows exactly the strongest gun control laws and placed on the list by mistake or for
open society or should it exclude what this sentence means. There that these laws made the victims seemingly no reason at all. They
certain groups as visitors and/or are those who believe that its of the recent Paris massacres argue that this is a meaningless
immigrants? original intention was to helpless. Gun control opponents gesture that accomplishes nothing.
3) Has the US (and Europe) gone permit state governments to note that California’s strict gun
so far with political correctness maintain militias. Others have control policies accomplished Entry into the United States
that people are now afraid to interpreted it to mean that it nothing in during the San If the gun control argument is
report questionable actions to the permits the individual citizen Bernardino attacks. They also both difficult and politically messy