Synthèse: Myths and heroes, culture of weapons

One may wonder to what extend myths contribute to the culture of weapons, especially in the United States of America.

A myth is a famous story which was made up in the past to explain natural events or to justify religious beliefs or social custom. It often deliver a teaching.

The cowboy myth is one of the most famous one. Cowboy stories are told threw Westerns. They take place during the ninteteenth century in the USA and manly talk about lonely cowboys who fight against criminals. Cowboys are looked up to, they are real heroes : they achieve feats and represent bravery, honor, strength. Weapons have a very important place in this myth : cowboys always have their colt on them, they need it to fight.

War movies contribute also to this culture of weapons. In these movies, American soldiers are represented like real heroes, they put their life in danger to serve their country. War is always represented as something good : it allows freedom and to overcome evil. Rambo is a war movie showing the feats of John Rambo : a special forces soldier from the US Army. Rambo is fighting during Vietnam war, he is the perfect example of the american soldier, skilled in survival and armed fight. He kills his opponents with heavy weapons like guns, bazookas, grenade launchers… This kind of movies glorifies weapons : everybody dreams to be like these « super » heroes.

This culture has always been present in the United States. It allowed the adoption of the 2nd Amendement in 1979. The 2nd Amendement protects the right of the peolple to keep arms to defend themselves.

However, weapons were used to kill 11008 pepole in the United States in 2014 whereas only 165 in Europe the same year (European population is almost 60% more important ). These numbers attest that the right to own weapons increases murders.

The District of Columubia is a state which restricted the right to own weapons with the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975. In 2008, a police officer, Dick Anthony Heller, asked for a licence to keep a handgun at home. His request was denied, he had then sued this district and won the case. The US Court of Appeals said that the regulations act were unconstitutional. Despite the murders, we can’t limit this right because of the 2nd Amendement. Moreover, Weapons generate a huge amount of monney. Thus, the right to own weapons is protected by powerful lobby and association like the NRA.

Weapons also kill in France : in 2017, 13 people passed away because of the hunt. In my daily life, i’m confrontated with this problem : i’m used to ride my bike in the forest and in the mountains. There are sometimes hunters in the same places. Some of them disrespect safety rules, this causes accidents, for example, a montainbiker was shot dead the last month near Morzine (french Alps).

In my opinion, weapons should be banned and huntig more framed. Myths and Movies are making people forget that weapons are killing machines. They should not be considered as a hobby. However, I think that, in the US, weapons will not be banned soon and will keep on to kill more and more people.

...