The incident that happened on Friday Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut has reactivated the U.S. debate about the necessity of passing gun control laws. The shooter, as in the majority of the cases, committed suicide, but the weapons were from his home and the gun license was in his mother’s name.
After his visit to this quiet northeastern town, which in the last decade only recorded one murder, U.S. President Barack Obama promised on Sunday Dec. 16—without saying the word weapon— that his office would act immediately to avoid similar tragedies. However the White House still has not offered any specific details about a plan. Any plan would be difficult to implement in the current U.S. political climate.
Bearing arms is a right that many Americans support and is also protected in the Second Amendment: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
In a sleazy homage to the 221st anniversary of the Second Amendment, which was ratified on December 15, 1791, Adam Lanza grabbed hold of his Bushmaster .223 and two handguns, all registered in his mother’s name. Adam Lanza first killed his mother and then went to the school where she worked and opened fire on dozens of innocent, defenseless children. 20 children died. The main weapon used by Lanza during his murderous rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School is the civil version of the famous assault M-16 weapon used by the United States’ army since the Vietnam War. This gun can be brought legally in almost any part of the country.
Hours before President Obama’s announcement, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein stated that when Congress begins their session in January, she will present a draft for a law that prohibits the purchase of assault weapons. Independent Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman asked that we do not lose sight of what is important.
On the opposing side, the Democratic law maker from West Virginia Joe Manchin, a strong defender of the Second Amendment, stated on the Monday after the shooting that there must be a sensible and reasonable debate concerning weapons control. In response to the lawmakers’ statements, there have been petitions and demonstrations from the public. Three days after the shooting, almost 160,000 people signed a petition on the White House web site calling for increased control in the circulation of weapons in the country.
Almost 31,600 Americans want the most strict gun control laws while more than 23,000 want firmer control. The law that was signed by Bill Clinton in 1994, which prohibited the possession of assault rifles, expired in 2004 and has not been renewed. With no elections in sight, Obama is soon to be inaugurated for his second term. President Obama can therefore break the cycle of violence in U.S. schools and make good of his Nobel Peace Prize.
Pronto a inaugurar su segundo mandato, Obama puede romper la cadena de violencia
El suceso ocurrido el viernes en la escuela Sandy Hook del poblado de Newtown, en Conneticut, ha reactivado en EEUU el debate acerca de la necesidad de aprobar una norma que regule la tenencia de armas en ese país. El atacante de turno —que como la mayoría en los casos se suicidó— tenía el fusil en su casa, la licencia estaba a nombre de su madre.
Tras su visita a este apacible pueblo en el noreste de EEUU, que en la última década registró un asesinato, el presidente estadounidense Barack Obama prometió la noche del domingo —sin pronunciar la palabra armas— actuar de inmediato para evitar tragedias similares; sin embargo, la Casa Blanca aún no ofreció detalles de la tarea que, sin duda, será difícil en el ambiente político.
La tenencia de armas es un derecho que defienden algunos estadounidenses apoyados en la segunda enmienda que señala: Siendo necesaria una milicia bien ordenada para la seguridad de un Estado libre, el derecho del pueblo a poseer y portar armas no será infringido.
Como un sórdido homenaje a los 221 años de la norma, aprobada el 15 de diciembre de 1791, Adam Lanza empuñó el Bushmaster .223 y dos armas cortas, todas a nombre de su madre, y tras asesinarla se fue a la escuela primaria donde ella trabajaba para abrir fuego contra decenas de niños indefensos, 20 de ellos murieron. La principal arma utilizada por Lanza durante la matanza de la escuela de Newtown es la versión civil del famoso fusil de asalto M-16 usado por el Ejército de EEUU desde la guerra de Vietnam y puede comprarse legalmente en casi todo el país.
Horas antes de la promesa de Obama, la senadora demócrata Dianne Feinstein anunció que en cuanto entre en funciones el nuevo Congreso, en enero, presentará un proyecto de ley para prohibir la compra de fusiles de asalto. El senador independiente por Connecticut Joseph Lieberman pidió “intentar que todas las emociones que sentimos en este momento no desaparezcan”.
A contramano, el demócrata de Virginia Occidental Joe Manchin, defensor de la segunda enmienda, llamó el lunes a realizar un debate “sensato y razonable” sobre el control de las armas. A esas manifestaciones de los legisladores se suman peticiones y manifiestos de la población. En tres días, casi 160 mil personas firmaron una petición en el sitio web de la Casa Blanca para lograr un mayor control de la circulación de armas en el país.
Unas 31.600 apoyan “leyes estrictas” sobre el control de armas y más de 23 mil personas, por su parte, adhirieron “por un control más firme”. Una ley firmada por Bill Clinton en 1994 prohibió la tenencia de fusiles de asalto, la disposición expiró en 2004, y jamás fue renovada. Sin elecciones a la vista y pronto a inaugurar su segundo mandato, Obama puede romper la cadena de violencia en las escuelas de EEUU y sustentar el rótulo de Nobel de la Paz.
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