​American inaction on gun control has deep roots

The Straits Times - http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/american-inaction-on-gun-control-has-deep-roots

Americans’ penchant for guns and inaction against gun control are rooted in Constitution, wrote NTU’s Dr Mark Cenite from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information in a commentary. The Second Amendment guarantees the individual right to bear arms for self-protection outside of military contexts. Just as important as the role of Constitution is the status of guns in Americans’ psyche, thanks to American movies of the “Western” genre with cowboys who use guns for self-defence and stand up to law enforcement that has turned rogue. This American idealisation, along with modern distrust in the authorities to keep them safe, has narrowed options for reform, with tragic consequences. Until members of the public trust the government to keep them safe, the appeal of gun ownership may continue.