Rifles and Pistols at Christmas

173

December 23, 2015

Published in El País
(Spain) on 19 December 2015
by Maria Olga Santisteban Otegui (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Stephen Routledge. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.

Incredible as it may seem, this is what I saw in a Christmas card in which an American congressman, surrounded by his large and idyllic family, was wishing for peace and happiness: all family members, from the congressman to the youngest of the clan, were posing for the camera armed to the teeth. All attempts made to better control the possession of weapons have met with limited success due to strong pressure applied by groups defending to the death the possession of weapons and the interests of a powerful arms industry. The Constitution, from the 18th century, establishes the right of every citizen to bear arms; an inheritance from the days of the Old West. The indiscriminate killings that have occurred do not frighten or stir the consciences of Americans. It is estimated that there are nearly 300 million guns – almost one per person – and the majority of owners are inexperienced users. They do not learn the lessons from their past, which is full of violence. In the name of sacred freedom, they hold fast to their rifles and pistols in the same way they hold a Christmas card.

Por increíble que nos pueda parecer, esto es lo que observé en una felicitación navideña con la que una congresista estadounidense, rodeada de su numerosa e idílica familia, deseaba sus mejores deseos de paz y felicidad. Todos los miembros de la familia posaban armados hasta los dientes, desde la citada congresista hasta el más pequeño del clan. Todos los intentos que se han hecho para controlar mejor la tenencia y posesión de armas han tenido escaso éxito debido a la fuerte presión de los grupos que defienden a ultranza la libre posesión o los intereses de una poderosa industria armamentística. Su Constitución (del siglo XVIII) consagra el derecho de todo ciudadano a portar armas, algo heredado de los tiempos del salvaje Oeste. No espantan ni revuelven las conciencias de los estadounidenses las matanzas indiscriminadas que se han producido. Se calcula que existen casi 300 millones de armas (casi una por persona), y muchos de los que las adquieren son en su mayoría inexpertos en su manejo. No aprenden de su historia pasada llena de violencia. En nombre de esa intocable libertad empuñan un fusil o una pistola igual que una postal de Navidad.— Maria Olga Santisteban Otegui.

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

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