A Love for Guns and Money

486

November 30, 2014

Published in La Razón
(Bolivia) on 10/28/2014
by Editorial (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Stuart Taylor. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.

Every so often in the United States, the issue of killings by civilians, usually males of various ages, equipped with firearms resurges. The latest incident involved a 15-year-old student who, last Friday, opened fire on his classmates while they were having breakfast in the school cafeteria. Two teenagers – one female and one male – died in the attack in Washington state, and three others were severely wounded. Subsequent to the attack, the disturbed teen took his own life.

In the past 20 years, there have been 24 similar tragedies. Each time that this type of incident occurs, the world asks itself how a democratic country such as the U.S. can continue to freely sell firearms, taking into account the high probability that they will fall into the hands of disturbed people, psychopaths and criminals, both in North America and beyond.

Well, as you might imagine, the motivation is money. This is the only way to explain the fact that the dangerous business of guns sales is booming, considering that the main beneficiaries are looking to commit crime rather than to defend themselves. We have the National Rifle Association to thank, an organization whose influence over the realm of Republican power is blatantly obvious.

Cada cierto tiempo, en EEUU se reedita la noticia de matanzas protagonizadas por civiles con armas de fuego, generalmente varones de diversas edades. En esta última ocasión, el viernes pasado un estudiante de 15 años decidió emprender a tiros contra sus compañeros mientras desayunaban en la cafetería de su colegio. Producto de este atentado, en Washington, murieron dos adolescentes, una mujer y un varón, y resultaron gravemente heridos otros tres. Además, el trastornado joven se suicidó luego del ataque.
Cada vez que ocurren este tipo de incidentes (en los últimos 20 años se han contabilizado 24 tragedias similares) propios y extraños se preguntan cómo es posible que en un país democrático como EEUU persista la venta libre de armas de fuego, tomando en cuenta que la probabilidad de que caigan en manos de personas perturbadas, psicópatas y criminales (dentro y fuera de Norteamérica) es muy alta.
Pues, como es de suponer, por la angurria del dinero. Solo así se explica que un negocio tan nocivo como es la venta de armas, cuyos principales beneficiarios no son quienes buscan defenderse, sino quienes buscan delinquir, goce de tan buena salud; y ello gracias al auspicio de la Asociación Nacional del Rifle (NRA), cuya influencia sobre las esferas de poder republicanas es más que evidente.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Block title

Japan: Diplomacy between Major Nations and Japan: Create a Unified Core of Mid-Level Nations

February 16, 2026. Published in Nishinippon Shimbun

The greatest challenges to be faced are the relationship with the U.S., our ally, and the relationship with China, our neighbor.

South Africa: How US Foreign Policy under Trump Erodes Legitimacy in the Global South

February 12, 2026. Published in Cape Times

The danger is not merely hypocrisy, but normalization, a world in which coercion replaces cooperation and sovereignty becomes conditional.

Austria: Jeff Bezos Is Not Solely To Blame for The Washington Post’s Decline

February 14, 2026. Published in Der Standard

[E]ven a new owner ... would be unable to avoid making cuts to the editorial staff, and even that wouldn’t guarantee the Post’s survival.

Iraq: From Noriega to Maduro: The Logic of Force in US Policy

February 19, 2026. Published in alsabaah

When political legitimacy becomes contingent on recognition by a superpower, populations lose their right to self-determination and democracy becomes a selective tool.

Saudi Arabia: Recalling the Night the US Ambassador to Libya Was Killed

February 17, 2026. Published in Asharq Al-Awsat

Topics

Iraq: From Noriega to Maduro: The Logic of Force in US Policy

February 19, 2026. Published in alsabaah

When political legitimacy becomes contingent on recognition by a superpower, populations lose their right to self-determination and democracy becomes a selective tool.

Mexico: The United States: Arms Supplier to Drug Traffickers

February 17, 2026. Published in La Jornada

[T]he U.S. government itself is a major supplier to the cartels that the White House claims to be pursuing with all its might.

India: What’s behind the Layoffs at The Washington Post?

February 17, 2026. Published in Amar Ujala

The Washington Post Guild, the staff union, questioned Bezos' commitment, saying that if he is no longer willing to invest in its mission, the institution needs a steward who understands it.