Cultural considerations when comparing United States & Canadian gun control

Regarding the Virginia Tech massacre: United States gunlaws compared to that of Canada. Considering the cultures of each country <!--break--> While following the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech, I am seeing many Canadian and American college students critiquing the current United States gun laws based on Canadian gun control. When comparing Canadian gun laws to that of the United States you must consider that both cultures and governments are unique. While the United States was formed as a way to break away from England, Canada is an extension of European culture. The United States bases many of its laws based on the ideology of individualism. The Second Amendment was put into the constitution to enable citizens of the newly found United States to protect themselves and their new country should foreign armies invade. The second amendment enables us to protect what is ours, whether it be our lives, personal property, or our country. In contrast Canada upholds a society and government that reflects European socialism. The country also pay homage to the British queen, placing her image on their currency. Although the laws and regulations of a country often help to mold that country’s culture, at the same time the culture of the country decides what laws should be put into place. The laws and regulations of country reflect what is important to its citizens. In the United States we are very much focused one being individuals, and what is best for us personally. Canada and European societies tend to be much more focused on the community, and what is best for everyone. The individual is the core of United States society and culture. I am not saying that either country is right or wrong, just that the ideals influence each government has to be taken into consideration when comparing the laws and society. It was not necessarily the United States gun laws that provided for this tragedy to occur, so much as it is the culture that puts an extreme emphasis on success and competition. Success and competition are very good things but too much concern with them causes an unhealthy amount of stress. Take for example the suicides rates of some of the most competitive universities like MIT. Has it really become this bad that we would rather die than live with failure? I do not know how Cho Seung-Hui obtained his firearms. When someone is in emotional turmoil or mentally ill, they often do not think about the repercussions of their actions, or the legal consequences that they will face in the aftermath. They are just concerned with the moment, and fulfilling what they perceive to be their “needs”, at the time. If this is the case for Cho, then no law could have stopped him.

<p>Regarding the Virginia Tech massacre: United States gunlaws compared to that of Canada. Considering the cultures of each country</p> <!--break--><p>While following the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech, I am seeing many Canadian and American college students critiquing the current United States gun laws based on Canadian gun control. When comparing Canadian gun laws to that of the United States you must consider that both cultures and governments are unique.</p> <p>While the United States was formed as a way to break away from England, Canada is an extension of European culture.</p> <p>The United States bases many of its laws based on the ideology of individualism. The Second Amendment was put into the constitution to enable citizens of the newly found United States to protect themselves and their new country should foreign armies invade. The second amendment enables us to protect what is ours, whether it be our lives, personal property, or our country.</p> <p>In contrast Canada upholds a society and government that reflects European socialism. The country also pay homage to the British queen, placing her image on their currency.</p> <p>Although the laws and regulations of a country often help to mold that country’s culture, at the same time the culture of the country decides what laws should be put into place. The laws and regulations of country reflect what is important to its citizens. In the United States we are very much focused one being individuals, and what is best for us personally. Canada and European societies tend to be much more focused on the community, and what is best for everyone.</p> <p>The individual is the core of United States society and culture. I am not saying that either country is right or wrong, just that the ideals influence each government has to be taken into consideration when comparing the laws and society.</p> <p>It was not necessarily the United States gun laws that provided for this tragedy to occur, so much as it is the culture that puts an extreme emphasis on success and competition. Success and competition are very good things but too much concern with them causes an unhealthy amount of stress. Take for example the suicides rates of some of the most competitive universities like MIT. Has it really become this bad that we would rather die than live with failure? </p> <p>I do not know how Cho Seung-Hui obtained his firearms. When someone is in emotional turmoil or mentally ill, they often do not think about the repercussions of their actions, or the legal consequences that they will face in the aftermath. They are just concerned with the moment, and fulfilling what they perceive to be their “needs”, at the time. If this is the case for Cho, then no law could have stopped him.</p>