Bill Sykes' Newsletter from America.
(Christmas 2002)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
The proliferation of guns within our own borders.
 Americans
have a fascination with, amongst many other things, automobiles
and guns and both are taking their toll in the loss of
the lives of people on the roads and in the cities of
America.
The difference being that, in most cases, deaths by automobile
are, in general, accidental, even if caused by a driver
under the influence, (DUI), which is a criminal act deplored
by the majority of the population including myself, but
killings by guns in general are premeditated and deliberate,
with the exception of the accidental discharge of a weapon
which is normally attributed to children who find an unsecured
gun in the home.
The National Rifle Association, (NRA), quotes, on many
occasions, the Constitution to support the right of the
individual to possess and bear arms. The initial concept
of the right to bear arms as stated in the Constitution
was aimed at the arming of authorized militia in order
to defend the security of the United States against any
aggressor, and not for any Tom, Dick, or Harry to act
the part of the proverbial gun slinger and kill innocent
civilians or engage in gang warfare.
 In
the last couple of weeks or so at least twenty people
have died from gunshot wounds in Los Angeles alone. The
current head count for deaths by gunshot wounds this year
in Los Angeles is in excess of six hundred people.
Mr. Charlton Heston, ex-president of the National Rifle
Association has always defended the rights of individuals
to purchase and own guns and promotes the slogan "Guns
do not kill people—it’s people who kill people"
or something like that.
I would suggest that the slogan should read, "In
general it‘s people with guns who kill people".
I know that there are other weapons of choice used in
killings, but it would appear that the prominent weapon
of choice, especially amongst gang members, is the gun.
We welcome feedback about any of the contents of these
newsletters. Please send all correspondence to bill_sykes@huddersfield1.co.uk
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