(International Observation) Why is it difficult to solve the deadlock on gun control over the frequent occurrence of gun violence in the United States?

　　China News Agency, New York, May 26th, Question: Why is the deadlock of frequent gun violence in the United States difficult to solve?

　　China News Agency reporter Wang Fan

　　At least 19 children and two teachers were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, southern Texas, on the 24th.

The case once again sparked a national debate on gun control.

American media pointed out on the 26th that the current deadlock on gun control under the bipartisan politics in the United States makes the people feel powerless and helpless.

　　More than half of Americans say they support legislation to tighten gun control, according to a new poll, but a majority of them don't think Congress will act.

This shows that under the influence of multiple factors, people have no confidence in the resolution of the gun control problem.

Law enforcement officers and paramedics rushed to the scene after the Texas school shooting.

What is the pain point of gun control?

　　After the Texas school shooting, US President Biden delivered a nationally televised address that night, saying that it is time to act; it is time to let those who obstruct, delay or oppose gun control bills know - "We will not forget."

In his speech, Biden called on Congress to enact new restrictions on gun proliferation as soon as possible and urged lawmakers to stand up against the gun lobby.

　　The "New York Times" published an article on the 26th that Biden seemed to shrink back when he spoke. He did not specify what action Congress would take, and only vaguely suggested that lawmakers need to show "backbone" to challenge the powerful gun lobby.

The report said that it is clear that Republicans and Democrats have difficulty reaching a consensus on the issue of gun violence; in terms of gun control, the party lines have become clearer, and it is difficult for the two parties to find common ground on substantive responses.

　　In fact, the issue of gun control in the United States has undergone a very complex evolution.

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed in 1791, and citizens have been granted the right to bear guns for more than 200 years.

Since the passage of the first federal legislation on gun control in 1927, the Firearms by Mail Act, the debate about gun control has never ceased.

The analysis believes that the reason why the problem of gun control is difficult to solve is related to many problems such as political polarization in the United States, ties between interest groups and politicians, and racism.

　　Gun control is one of the representative political issues of bipartisan polarization.

As political polarization in the United States continues to increase, the U.S. Congress has not passed any major federal gun control laws for more than two decades.

　　The American people also feel powerless and helpless about this situation.

"USA Today" pointed out that after the Texas school shooting, some people are experiencing "learned helplessness".

The report quoted Martin Seligman, director of the Center for Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, as saying that this state of mind applies to most Americans — who have wanted more checks and balances on gun control over the years, but eventually found that Do something that doesn't work.

　　An important factor in the current situation is the gun ownership group, whose industrial interests and politics perfectly intersect.

The Center for American Progress, a Washington-based think tank, said in a report that gun lobbying goes well beyond business, manipulating human rights frameworks and compromising public safety.

As one of the main supporters and donors of the Republican Party, the money of gun lobby groups such as the National Rifle Association has already penetrated American politics, and they can stifle all possible gun control moves in the cradle.

What is the solution to the gun control deadlock?

　　In recent years, under the intertwining of multiple contradictions such as political polarization and racism, gun violence in the United States has become a stubborn social disease, and the issue of gun control has been in a deadlock.

USA TODAY, citing gun violence and social psychologists, said that "the deadlock over gun control is a fundamental function of our political system," and that this "social paralysis" is caused by gun lobby groups, social disintegration, and the entire Society's high tolerance for individual and collective trauma.

　　Jennifer Carlson, a sociology professor at the University of Arizona, argues that people often talk about how exhausted or overwhelmed they are, but never about how to make our political culture healthier.

Carlson said that while bipartisan measures such as stronger background checks for gun purchases are worth advocating, she is skeptical that the current U.S. political system can achieve gun control.

"We need to fundamentally rethink our political system and the way we engage in politics in our daily lives."

　　Given that polls show consensus on some gun reforms, the way to break the impasse is "mobilization," said Jay Van Bavel, a professor of psychology and neurology, director of the Laboratory for Social Identity and Ethics at New York University.

For voters who care about gun reform, they must understand how entangled the GOP is with the gun lobby and give up picking Republican candidates who don't vote for gun control policies.

　　However, Bloomberg’s analysis pointed out that gun control measures such as background checks on gun purchases are not effective in reducing gun violence. In many recent mass shootings, the shooters are all legally purchased guns.

In addition, a Gallup poll showed that while a majority of the people surveyed supported gun control, more than half believed that gun control would do little to reduce the number of mass shootings.

According to the analysis, only gun bans can really combat gun violence, but polls show that less than 20% of the people support gun bans.

　　Statistics from the US non-profit organization "Gun Violence Archives" show that as of May 26, there have been 213 mass shootings in the US this year with more than 4 casualties; gun violence has killed 17,300 people and killed 14,300 people this year. Shot wounded.

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