Amy Schumer Joins The Gun Control Conversation
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Amy Schumer Joins The Gun Control Conversation

But are guns really the problem?

12
Amy Schumer Joins The Gun Control Conversation
NY Daily News

On Monday, actress and comedian Amy Schumer took the podium next to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who is also her cousin, to speak on the issue of gun violence following the incident that occurred at a showing of her new movie Trainwreck at a theater in Lafayette, Louisiana. While celebrity opinions on issues as polarized and as important as this should be taken with a grain of salt, senseless acts of gun violence are becoming increasingly common in our country. Moreover, it's commendable for personalities such as Schumer to draw much needed attention to these kinds of issues.

But this is not a piece about gun control. This is a piece about violence in America. Schumer's stance on gun control is clear, but I don't want this article to be aligned with any stance in particular. This is because I don't think that guns are at the heart of the problem, and telling everyone that they should undoubtedly side with Schumer is not only an unfair way to debate the issue, but would likely be an act in futility given how deeply fascinated that Americans are with guns.

But I don't think that our fascination ends with guns. I think we are fascinated with killing each other.

In 1982, the United States was the only modern nation with a higher murder rate than countries like Cambodia and Nicaragua, who were both in the middle of brutal civil wars at the time. There was an attempted murder every three minutes, and a new body in the morgue every 20 minutes. Japan, England, and West Germany (remember, this is in the '80s) had a combined population almost equal to that of the U.S. in 1982 and averaged around 6,000 murders a year at the time. We averaged over 27,000 murders a year during the same period.

With staggering numbers like those, I think it's difficult to attribute the American violence problem to guns alone. There was and still is some kind of deep seeded urge to rip each other apart in this country, and whether or not we have access to guns isn't the issue. The American people are the issue.

That's right, I said it.

Switzerland, a country that hasn't been in an armed conflict since 1847, has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world. The 8 million or so Swiss citizens have between 2.3 and 4.5 million firearms in public circulation. Only Yemen, Serbia and the U.S. have more guns per capita. More people with guns means more gun murders, right? Wrong. Switzerland has a gun homicide rate ten times lower than that of the United States.

So why is it that we can't handle ourselves around guns? I think the answer lies in the cultural differences. Switzerland's peaceful gun culture was bred out of a sense of patriotic duty during World War II. Switzerland was in a very rough neighborhood during this time period and was at risk of being invaded by Germany. The "gun in every closet" tradition was born because Swiss citizens were prepared to shoot it out from the living room to the battlefront if someone came knocking. Luckily for them, the fighting never came to Swiss soil (probably because Germany knew everyone there was armed to the teeth and trained to shoot). Gun culture in Switzerland is based on civic responsibility and national security rather than an individualistic drive to protect our stuff and our families from the evil outside.

Now, many gun owners in America will claim the same attitude the Swiss have, but is that really true? Switzerland was quite literally caught in the crossfire of the deadliest war humans have ever seen and had to be prepared. It would have taken mere hours for an enemy force to occupy that tiny country. Our fondness for guns and easy access to them in America is in large part due to our fear of a tyrannical government, not because of any external threat. The reason there are almost as many guns as there are people in America is because we are afraid of having things taken from us, and guns have been our go-to method for protecting our things since the Revolutionary War.

But I digress. This still doesn't answer the question of why Americans seem to love killing each other so much. For me, I think the answer is painfully simple. It's just the way we are. We are a kid that got a big head after we finally stood up to the playground bully almost 250 years ago. If you mess with us, we'll feed you a knuckle sandwich. This us-against-the-world mentality is in the back of American minds, from the protective homeowners right down to the street gangs. The only difference between those two groups of people, if we're talking about guns, are the actions they deem punishable with a bullet.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

57745
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

37215
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

958921
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

191874
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments