Headlines:
- Right to Bear Arms
- Oregon Stand-off
Right to Bear Arms
In a speech on 5th January 2016, US President Barack Obama announced his plans to toughen the purchasing of guns. This is on the background of a number of mass shootings which have happened this year which have consumed the lives of many US citizens. However, the purpose and contradiction of this action is clear for most US citizens who firmly believe in their right to bear arms. For example, many have highlighted the contradiction in discourse employed by Obama in support of this legislation. The reason for this is that this legislation is in contradiction with the fundamental values of Freedom which American society holds. It is these values which unrestricted previously restricted behaviours such as child abortion which causes the death of 4000 unborn children a day, as pointed out by US Governor Mike Huckabee. To now restrict access to guns is in opposition to such secular liberal values which has caused and upset amongst many US citizens.
Oregon Stand-off
Over the weekend a tense stand-off took place in Oregan, USA, when 150 white adults took up arms against the US government in protest of arson convictions of ranchers Dwight Hammond Jr and his son, Steven. The armed men are currently occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Burns, Oregon to, in their words, “assist in helping the people of Harney County claim back their lands and resources”. Ammon Bundy has said that his people won’t “rule out violence” if law enforcement “tries to remove them”. The Washington Post called them “occupiers.” The New York Times opted for “armed activists” and “militia men.” And the Associated Press described them as: “A family previously involved in a showdown with the federal government has occupied a building at a national wildlife refuge in Oregon and is asking militia members to join them.” Whilst the actions of militant groups and terrorists is no different to these white Americans, the media, US public and authorities view these as actions taken to gain ones rights and principles, something naturally never given to Muslims.