So we all know that America has problems with guns, the school shootings, the gang violence, war veterans affected with PTSD tipping over the edge etc. Yet nevertheless, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and many Americans will defend to their last breath the American’s right to bear arms in their as enshrined in their constitution. Americans’ have the right to protect themselves and their families.
Expand that out to a broader global scale and the weapons countries have to protect themselves, and you will see that America is frequently insisting countries like Iraq, Iran, North Korea etc disarm themselves and curb all use of specific types of weapons. Let’s acknowledge there that all weapons cause harm, and the fact some weapons in particular are used, like nuclear, biological and chemical weapons seems to cause us particular horror. Weapons cause fear, terror, instability, they encourage illicit trade, they are often misused by people in authority, they cause tragedy.
So lets also remember that the right the right to protect, in a broader context, if we substitute nations for people, is a right America wants some nations never to have. This is another string in America’s bow of dominance, keeping its enemies, both real and potential in check by enforcing military weakness alongside other strategies of dominance such economic, cultural and political.
The reality is, Americans are more likely to do harm to themselves or people in their own nation with weapons, drugs and indulgence in foods and drink than they are likely to be attacked by another country. I’m sure the insurance industry statistics and premiums back this up!