It's time to think radically about guns

Gun crime statistics, provided by LBC

I'm sick of hearing about widespread violence on the news day in, day out. It's happening far too often now and it's being highlighted with greater emphasis. These past two months alone has seen mass-murders in Orlando where dozens were killed in a nightclub; in Nice, a man took a lorry and ran over hundreds during Bastille Day, a short week after; a deadly failed coup in Turkey claimed more lives. And as I write this, Munich are in the mourning process after multiple shoppers were needlessly killed on a casual Friday afternoon.

These four particular atrocities have something significant in common - the culprits used a rifle of some sort to shorten the lives of hundreds and cause emotional pain for thousands more. I'm not a believer in coincidence, and I'm not the sort who goes out of my way in actively agreeing with Piers Morgan. However, when I absorb the news and hear these tragedies, I cannot help but think that guns must cease to exist. The world must unite against the damn things once and for all.

Of course, banning guns altogether can be seen as an unpopular choice by millions of owners around the world. It'd also be a highly unpopular decision in the eyes of the firearms industry and its workers. In 2013, manufacturers in the United States made an astonishing 10.35 million rifles during that calendar year, many of which were imported to different parts of Europe. A massive 88 out of 100 people in the States owns a gun. And an average of over 11,000 people die as a result of gun homicide in the 50 states. I can't help but feel that these statistics alone are absolutely frightening.

Guns widely sold in supermarkets like Walmart (Image: WSJ)

It is easy to argue that the majority of those who own these guns don't use them. In America, plenty of owners say they keep it in a safe place and haven't touched it since they bought it. It's become part of their culture to possess one - guns are considered normal there. And with its use comes horrific circumstance. You're ten times more likely to die by shooting in the US than in any other developed country. These statistics shame a country in all honesty and it's a huge shame that the House of Congress has done nearly nothing about this issue.

Now, many people who know me realise that I'm one of Barack Obama's biggest admirers - I really am. He's inspired a generation in the States to believe in themselves and has turned the country around from the mess left by the George W. Bush administration, transforming the health industry and economy. But it's the gun industry that would cast a shadow on his terrific premiership. I can see he has tried to strengthen regulation. I have seen the emotions he has expressed, calling for such change. But as the President of the most powerful country in the world, he's felt absolutely powerless in trying to convince many pro-gun Republican politicians to make his policy a reality.

The House of Congress' attitude isn't likely to change overnight. With the general election only a quarter of the year away, our focus is on the Presidential candidates' views on them. Hillary Clinton has pledged to confiscate firearms from enthusiasts (so similar to Obama's view) while Donald Trump wants school teachers and clubbers to own one and carry it around like it's their house keys. These are two different attitudes and depending on the voters that turn up in November and which Congress members are therefore elected, I can't see this constitution changing anytime soon.

Someone preparing to shoot a Deer (Image: Shooting UK)

In my view, people who have purchased, or want to purchase a gun, has that urge to harm. Many claim it's for self-defence, however, no owner isn't going to keep it as a pet and bullet-less. This may sound like a simplistic perspective, but there are countless of other ways to express your frustrations about someone, or something. I'd even go as radically far as heavily regulating violent visual content in film, TV and video games, paintballing, water pistols, archery and skeet shooting. All users of such activity, however fun they see them, need to be checked and ensure they're participating for recreational purposes rather than practicing to harm.

For people like me in the UK, we're lucky to have a terrific security system whereby gun crime is among the lowest in developed countries. I'm proud to say we've banned fox hunting and I hope that one day we can ban people shooting deer and pigeons too. Our bigger issue is knife crime, sadly. For that, education is key. It isn't an epidemic but you can defend yourself through safer means without thinking you're taking part in a sword fight. You can't defend yourself when a bullet comes towards you at hundreds-of-miles an hour.

Of course, gun crime is horrendous anywhere in the world and it's unfair to pinpoint this problem with the United States. However, as the country is hugely influential and we often hear the 'American Dream' phrase buzzing in our ears when we associate with them. But their general attitude towards rifles is reflected in global society. It's the same as the West's attitude to nuclear weapons. If you don't want the crime to happen elsewhere, then why advocate it closer to home? It's easy for an American to mourn what has happened in Orlando, or the isolated cases where police officers and disadvantaged members of US society are attacking each other, but if 88 out of 100 people in the country own a gun of some type - drop yours first and then have the right to criticise government policy and mourn those victims.

Action speaks louder than words. I can sympathise with French President Francois Hollande for having to constantly address his nation about the horrendous shootings under his leadership, and hear his passionate pledges to clampdown on terrorism. Yet, clearly, shooting down suspected terrorists in their international bases isn't working. I don't see any global strategy, through members of G20, NATO or United Nations sitting together and ensure these mass killings come to an end. My ban and radical change is just one solution - unworkable it may seem but working together, coming up with viable solutions is the best way forward. Otherwise, terrorism will thrive.