Talkin Bout Guns Like They Aint Got None
Woke up this Monday morning with a mild case of the Monday Blues, only to be pushed into what I would describe as Monday Navies since it got really dark inside… The amplification of my case was caused by not one, nor two, not even three like the old Raid commercial but four posts about guns being sold legaly in Saudi… and the number of posts are increasing.
Not that people didn’t have guns in the first place. Firearms are not sold in Saudi, not even pellet guns where sold until a few years ago, but those with keen observation skills like SGIME noticed the sale of holsters and all that that goes with it.
Many of the people I’ve known in Saudi own a firearm, except for a few like me, but I’ve considered it many times. I am against guns and violence.
I recommend watching Bowling for Columbine.
It used to be, someone wants a gun, someone somewhere knows somebody that can get the gun for you for 10 times it’s price, you go and get a license for it from whatever government agency does it, they ask you where you got it and you say I inherited it, even if it were brand spanking new, and they register it under your name… Or so I’ve heard.
I have not seen guns being sold here in Australia at K-Mart as I’ve seen in the USA, but the latest reports say 365 guns go missing every year in Australia which end up in black markets.
The selling of firearms or the lack of, has been and will always be a matter of debate… Do we sell it so everyone has it or has access to it? Or should we ban it so only the outlaws will? I am sure they are doing this to cut down on illigal smuggling of firearms in the country… And maybe for a little bit of this.
But what intensified my Monday blues is, most of the posts and the comments had this feeling of “the end is near” and we are all going to go postal on each other… Guns were already there as I said, we didn’t do it then, we won’t do it now… I hope…
Ashraf said in twitter, and I translate it (without permission) “Cinema NO, Elections NO, Women driving NO, not closing during prayers NO, coed universities NO, then they go and allow selling guns”
But I see no changes.
*Picture from the Houston gun show at the George R. Brown Convention Ccenter
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
Oct 19, 2009 @ 23:21:52
Having such a stupid comment by Ashraf to drive your point through my dear Qusay is the ultimate disgrace to your blog and your country.
It could’ve been a good subject to discuss knowing there are 62 million guns on the lose in Saudi!
Oct 20, 2009 @ 00:20:06
Wow! If you write such a brilliant post when you are navy, what will happen when you switch mood poles and are fuschia?
I do think that mentality prevails among certain other profiles in suits, with stethoscopes, computer gizmos (a technical term
), lawyers’ and MBA’s briefcases,etc. It is less crude but no less paranoid.
I had a discussion with an American ER physician in Holland (long story), initially about ER medicine, then how Canadian ER specialists are sent to the US to do some of their training to learn to handle gun and knife injuries (not high enough numbers even in a big city Canadian ER–although we are “improving”), then gun ownership and registries. Imagine my surprise when this educated sophisticated, doing a MA in philosophy, knows the damage guns do (even accidently), pleasant man said “Well, if I have to defend my home and family, I want to have a gun”. He did of course have one, and put an end to my Canadianness by saying he had learned the value of having a gun while spending a couple of years in Canada as a boy. Hmmm. Plus he looked like my cousin!
Great link to the explication of how money is spent to support the US arms industry, which also puts the ginning up for war with Iran in another perspective. Reminds me of all those American history classes where the US profits from wars, and jumps in at the end to clean up (or is forced in)–as taught in the true north strong and free of course.
Strong gun legislation does reduce homicides and injuries, and does so proportional to the enforcement of the law, and the length of time the laws have been in place, as born out by statistics Canada vs US, and province to province in Canada.
Generally guns (hunting–not semi automatics/automatics) seem more justified the more rural the location, for defense against wild life–animal that is; or where there are serious risks of lawlessness, and a genuine need for self-defense. However, even then, access to guns just increases homicides and injuries, accidental and otherwise.
So far I am linkless–but there is always the option of a PS! LOL
Oct 20, 2009 @ 00:21:04
Never did I expect the issue of gun control becoming a hot topic in Saudi. Honestly, it scares the hell out of me.
But I guess I’m not so left leaning as to not be able to see the other side of the argument. Being armed does improve your safety, but without education and infrastructure, its a recipe for disaster.
Interestingly, one of the reasons for the second amendment (“the right to bear arms”) in the US constitution was to “deter undemocratic governments”. I wonder if people will think this applies here ;P
Oct 20, 2009 @ 02:32:25
When very frustrated I resort to sarcasm. I’m still not quite sure if my blog entry is legible, and I couldn’t put two words together while trying to discuss it with a friend at the hospital today.
@Chiara:
Speaking of gunshot and stab wounds. A lovely friend of mine chose his elective training to take place in a godforsaken part of Jeddah called Ghlail, so he can see gunshot and stab wounds. On his first day there he got stabbed in the arm. Had it in a sling for a couple of months but nothing too serious thankfully.
Oct 20, 2009 @ 06:05:20
Hi all,
I say it’s just like liqueur or prostitution. Every Saudi can -somehow- get access, so should we allow?
I say damn NO. you say 62 million guns are on the loose? how’s this getting any better by legalizing the market. Black market will still be there, and if the price isn’t competitive enough then you just go to your neighborhood’s outlet and buy yourself a piece!! what good is in this?
You need to enforce security? you work on the police. one doesn’t need to be that smart to figure it out!
Oct 20, 2009 @ 09:54:25
NidalM–alas, it seems there is no provision for gun safety training in the proposal. By invoking the 2nd are you wanting a musket to defend against the Brits?
Souma–great blog article! And beautiful too!
As for your friend, that is taking experiential learning a little far! I hope he received good care, is fully healed and will have no scare, psychologi cal or physical.
The last stab wound I saw was a 17 yo bipolar patient OR anti-social personality disorder or maybe both–but I digress. He was very slim and had stabbed himself in the abdomen–fortunately managing to miss everything important, especially bowel loops (they are very good at ducking incoming!).
I would link my gun control does save lives stats but Andrew at Saudi Jeans told me that Saudi is too lawless, and the police to disrespected for gun control to work there. So I have to think on it all.
I still don’t see the rationale of why having legal controls over who buys what type of gun, from whom, how (criteria for licensing gun owners) and when (age requirements) is worse that just letting people have them pell mell. The more that guns are registered the easier it is to identify the ones used in crime whether stolen, or illegal.
I realize the article was about legalizing the sale of guns by creating legal gun shops, but that is what happens in Canada and you have to go hunting (pun intended) to find them, whereas in the States there is usually one in the strip mall next to the Mac’s Milk.
Oh no, I seems I am about to go linkless and without a genuine PS all day.
Oct 20, 2009 @ 09:57:00
PS Qusay–it should be well into Tuesday by now there. Are you over your Monday blues? LOL
Ah, I feel so much better!
Oct 20, 2009 @ 10:18:17
My dear Ashraf the whole police department is working for the guy who gave you a voice in his newspaper!
You have turned it into a political issue with your remark.
We belong to the same school of thought. But that doesn’t mean I would allow myself to utilize this for a political score.
It is an issue of economics and security. It could work. Or it could backfire. But we have to do what we have to do.
Prince Khaled or Jamal could explain it to you better.
If you want to know about my affiliation, ask your boss!
Oct 20, 2009 @ 10:24:56
Dear Qusay
looool please don’t be!
Ashraf asked be about my work. Thats all
Jeddah is such a small place.
Oct 21, 2009 @ 00:35:10
Lucky me–so many Jeddans here, in so many professions. Any scuba diving instructors? I’d like to re-certify on the Red Sea Coral reef! LOL
Oct 21, 2009 @ 02:22:25
Great insights into the issue! And thanks for the link.
Oct 20, 2009 @ 10:02:04
Thanks Saud, so that is 62/20 = 3.1 guns/person… where is my nina? http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=nina
Oct 20, 2009 @ 10:05:15
I agree, and I removed the paragraph which was induced by the Monday blues and I am sorry I wrote it in the first place, but I am sure you knew who I was talking about.
Yes, even those that do not want to own a gun, get guns because everyone around them seems armed.
Oct 20, 2009 @ 10:06:09
No comment Nidal, and welcome back
Oct 20, 2009 @ 10:08:34
I’ve known many excellent products of Ghulail, both were smarter than smart, I know it is one of the poor parts of Jeddah.
I bet your friend always shows off his scar… right?
Oct 20, 2009 @ 10:12:32
Hello Ashraf, the debate about gun control will never end… never.
Thanks for your comment
Oct 20, 2009 @ 10:13:28
Monday blues are gone LOL, I hope Tuesday is a better day.
Oct 20, 2009 @ 10:21:29
Dude, mate, bro, now you are scaring me
does my boss know you also?
Oct 21, 2009 @ 05:50:55
I’m not sure if i’m following you correctly, SaudiAspire. But i believe it is a n issue of politics.. missed-up-politics, that is!
This latest announcement gives the ILLUSION that public are entrusted with the security issue. But entrust was not a factor in any of the other public matters i mentioned.
I have spilled-out my point of view in a comment on my blog post.
Oct 20, 2009 @ 14:00:56
Have never seen it, actually. haven’t i known the medication and dose i would’ve never guessed it was something that serious. i simply thought he trained too violently at the gym…
Oct 20, 2009 @ 21:30:02
Well I can’t say I’m a big fan of the brits (Pakistan *was* under occupation at one point). But truth be told, given current circumstances, we might have been better off under them ;P
Oct 21, 2009 @ 00:46:15
i’m not an instructor but i could use a diving partner in jeddah who is NOT my cousin..
Oct 21, 2009 @ 01:21:01
We’re on! As far as I know we are not cousins, though sympatico nonetheless LOL
Oct 21, 2009 @ 01:24:54
Blame it on Mountbatten and his cartographer AKA the guy with the straight ruler.
Or you were thinking contemporary drones, against which even guns are impotent.
Oct 21, 2009 @ 01:26:15
It’s looking up for me! How is it closing out for you?
Oct 21, 2009 @ 01:35:07
To me it speaks to a very limited but perhaps survival interpretation of the local reality–a short-sighted one for the whole culture and society.
I am also now more likely to see the self-inflicted injuries, and be more cognizant of the fact that access to harmful means increase the likelihood of serious self-harm.
Hard, in my opinion, to justify any private gun ownership except for regulated hunting, self protection in rural areas, and I guess anyone living in a notably lawless region. But now I am sounding soooooo Canadian, I am feeling an urge to pour maple syrup on something! LOL
Oct 21, 2009 @ 07:46:28
Anytime