The Dialogue of the Deaf on Guns Continues in America, As Donald Trump Calls for More Guns.

Mass shootings are on the rise in America, but politicians seem unable to provide a real solution.

New mass shootings in America, what next? In the aftermath of the deaths of 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and the killing of ten African Americans at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, few commentators were optimistic that the American political class would learn from the experience. Rather, the question was whether the Democrats would try to force a debate in Congress, given the predicted failure.

Two bills that would strengthen pre-purchase gun controls were passed by the House of Representatives in 2021. But they must pass the Senate, which is divided 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats. The balance of power is likely to be even more unfavorable to Joe Biden's camp after the Midterms of 2022.

The Democratic majority leader, Chuck Schumer, launched the review procedures while recognizing that their chance of being adopted was “slim”. The 60 votes needed require a cross-party agreement, which does not exist at this time. With five months to go before the Midterms elections, each side is seeking to mobilize its voters.

Not surprisingly, Republicans and Donald Trump are calling for more guns so Americans can protect themselves

Republicans, fierce defenders of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, have been lining up since the Uvalde shooting, between calls to “not politicize” the debate (Ted Cruz) and to “pray” (Mitch McConnell). “You cannot legislate away evil,” pro-gun Representative Lauren Boebert reacted on Twitter, calling instead for “certified armed teachers”:

Lauren Boebert @laurenboebert

Nancy Pelosi had no problem bussing in 25,000 armed troops to protect her with AR-15s in an empty, locked down city. At a minimum, our schools can have certified armed teachers to protect our children from deranged maniacs who wish to do them harm.

In response, Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blasted Republicans for letting “babies are shot with AR15s that we let teen boys impulse buy before they can legally have a beer”:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @AOC

Why even be in Congress if you don’t believe in doing your job? Just quit and let someone who actually gives a damn do it instead of acting like a useless piece of furniture when babies are shot with AR15s that we let teen boys impulse buy before they can legally have a beer.

Lauren Boebert @laurenboebert

You cannot legislate away evil.

While Joe Biden is going to Uvalde, Donald Trump spoke on May 27, 2022, at the annual gathering of the gun lobby, the NRA. A coincidence of timing, and location, as the rally is being held in Texas this year.

Not surprisingly, Donald Trump agreed with the NRA, who called it “the act of a lone, deranged criminal”, while calling on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to pass a more permissive law on gun ownership. Here is an excerpt from Donald Trump's speech

“The existence of evil in our world is not a reason to disarm law-abiding citizens... The existence of evil is one of the very best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens.”

There was a sense that Donald Trump was already on the campaign trail for 2024 when he accused Joe Biden of exploiting “the tears of families”. Donald Trump's proposals to solve the problems posed by these increasing mass killings? Always more weapons of course!

The former real estate tycoon has indeed called for increased security in American schools, suggesting the installation of “sturdy fences” and metal detectors in front of schools and “arming teachers”.

The numbers in America are distressing, but the country seems to be in an endless downward spiral

Since the beginning of 2022, more than 200 “mass shootings” (at least four injured, excluding the shooter) have been recorded by the Gun Violence Archive. According to the CDC, in 2020, there were more than 19,000 murders by firearms (and 24,000 suicides) in the United States, a figure that has increased by 75% over ten years. The FBI, on the other hand, counted 61 “active shooter incidents in populated areas” last year, up 50% over one year. A total of 250 people were affected, 103 of whom died.

The United States has become heavily armed over the past twenty years. While the population has increased by 18% between 2000 and 2020, the number of weapons manufactured annually in the country and for the American market has increased almost threefold, according to a report by the federal agency ATF. Imports increased nearly fivefold. And the ATF is now tracking “ghost” guns, which individuals buy as kits on the Internet - more than 19,000 were seized in 2021.

The few initiatives to limit the spread of guns now fall to the companies that sell them. In 2018, retail giant Walmart raised the minimum age to buy one in its stores to 21. It had already stopped selling assault rifles like the one legally purchased for his 18th birthday by the Uvalde killer. But the AR-15 is still available in most gun shops in the country.

There is a real dialogue of the deaf in America, and each side seems unable to talk to the other side. The most appalling thing is probably to see the Republicans calling for more and more guns when this seems to be the original problem that facilitates all these mass killings in the end.

America is in the middle of a downward spiral that seems to have no end in sight when it comes to guns.