The Firearm Philosophy - a Conflict of Ideas

Let's start with what the most peaceful people who ever walked this earth think about self-defense. According to Dalai Llama, the wisest thing a person can do when his/her life is under threat is to open an assault on the intruding marauder. And M.K.Gandhi, on the page 238 of his autobiography confessed that the blackest deed ever performed by the that time rulers of the country India is an act that deprived an entire nation from their right to keep and bear arms. Questions; anyone? A ton of them, if we tend to overlook the fragments.

Things are not too different when it comes to firearm ownership for the USA and India; the Constitutional Rights to own firearms are guaranteed by the Amendments. However, what the US realized way back in 1791 took almost 150 years more for India; the Arms Act posed by the British in 1878 received changes - first in 1958 and then, in 1962. The only difference that exists now is the US government practices what it preaches whereas the Indian government doesn't. The reason behind is a lack of foresight and as Dr. Sigmund Freud wrote to Marie Bonaparte: "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded emotional and sexual maturity." Emotional? Definitely, for the Government doesn't trust its own people; however, with a population that surpassed 100 Crores (1 crore = 10 million), nobody can perhaps blame the country on the grounds of sexual immaturity. But instead of pointing our respective index fingers, let's have a look at the rules first.

Both the countries have a common set of formalities to complete; a wannabe firearm owner must meet certain criteria before he/she is granted the permit to possess a firearm. A background check is thus a foremost process every applicant has to undergo (including criminal records); so are the mental health tests, domestic violence perpetration tests and medical tests, to prove that a person is not addicted to alcohol and drugs. If all are green, it's time for the grin. The US government is sensible; to stop people not being able to fulfill the criterion for acquiring a permit through bribe, a 10 years sentence in prison has been kept ready for the issuer. However, in India, the real problem is a lack of willingness of the authority to issue a license or permit. Those who are influential and have real high contacts (i.e. people in politics or a part of the government themselves) can get things done in a tweak of the fingers; those who don't, there's a slim chance of getting one unless he is ready to bribe the verification authority handsomely.

It's not my intention to show the authority as mindless people; but to say the least they are opportunists. Firearms, in India, are looked upon as tools for outlaws by most of the general citizens, who are brainwashed by their previous generations to believe guns to be the bad man's things and no law-abiding citizen is supposed to own one. If you face a threat, submit to it - maybe your valuables shall change hands along with your wife (you can get married again) - but if you are a gentleman, you must not retaliate. This is the reason why most Indian parents enjoy watching their sons play with dolls but shall beat the daylights off of the kid if he asks for an air-soft gun. The authority just takes this opportunity (lack of awareness) to impose gun control (they have even banned import of firearms since 1986), whereas for a valid reason, they preach that every citizen shall become a criminal if given a gun. And it shows clearly how much the government trusts its people.

A report from FBI (http://www.americanfirearms.org/reports.php) clearly states that gun control makes things easy for criminals. For they are going to procure their weapons in the meanest way possible and the police (at least in India) is hours away when they are required within minutes. When shall the Indian Government stop living in a fool's paradise and be one with practicality? Shall they ban owning automobiles to stop road accidents in the near future as well?