1. How big is the problem of guns in the United States?
There are more guns than there are in the United States. Every year, more than 30,000 people are killed by a single bullet, most of them in suicide or gun accidents. But there are also big shootings every year, for example, in recent weeks, six massage parlor employees have been shot dead, ten visitors to a supermarket (see video below) and below is a video after the shooting of a former American footballer:
2. How exactly does Biden want to deal with gun violence?
He promised to bring key measures during the campaign. The Democratic majority in the House of Representatives has passed laws to bring more control over who can buy weapons. Biden has spoken out in support of banning semi-automatic weapons. But the measures he announced this week were very limited because he did it by a presidential decree, to change anything in reality, to pass Senate laws.
3. Possession of a gun is a fundamental right in the United States, can Biden really replace it?
Between 1994 and 2004 there were strict gun laws in the United States. During Biden’s vice presidency between 2009 and 2017, after 20 children were killed at the Sandy Hook School (in 2012), Biden was involved in revising those laws. It failed. Weapons cannot be banned because the Supreme Court has said that everyone can have a weapon. But you can control some guns and impose requirements on who will be allowed to own the gun.
For example, at this time those on the terrorist list or those who attacked their wives are allowed to buy weapons. Let’s change that. For now, Biden is not putting much pressure on it yet. He talks about it, but Parliament wants to discuss his other plans first.
4. This material is sensitive to many Americans, and how do they respond to his plans?
Divided as usual. In Republican circles any restriction is considered unacceptable, ‘arms are freedom, you don’t have to carry it’. After the shooting at a high school in Florida, the theme had been in the public eye for a long time, after which explicit students were able to grab the nation’s attention. But the sense of urgency has diminished somewhat.
5. Is Biden politically involved in his plans?
This week he announced an executive move. An order. He can do it on his own. More radical policy requires a law. Republicans say they want to negotiate, but experience shows they usually vote against. Democrats could push the theme through the Senate to raise parliamentary rules, as anti-gun activists would like, but Biden did not support it.
6. The gun lobby is strong in the United States, can Biden compete with it?
The fascinating thing is that the National Rifle Association is very weak at this point. The panel declared itself bankrupt after allegations of mismanagement and concealment of arrears. In one case, the boss leaked false information about Wayne Lobier, who once said, “The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is to be a good guy with a gun.” He would have been bribed. So there is no money in the club to air ads to keep Republicans on board.
Incidentally, even NRA members are in favor of criminal trials for anyone who wants a weapon. But that mild signal is echoed by right-wing commentators who do not want to move even an inch in the arms debate.
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