Violence armée aux États-Unis (document en anglais)

Gun violence in the US

This article entitled “Gun violence in the US” has been written by Stuart Jeffries on May 17, 2002. He has been working for the Guardian since 1990 as a subeditor, TV critic, review editor and Paris correspondent. In this text, S. Jeffries tries to explain the nature of gun’s violence in the United States. It is based on the documentary film “Bowling for Columbine” produced by Michael Moore. First, the article mentions how the film was received in Cannes during the festival and we understand that it was acclaimed by the critics and the public. The question raised by M. Moore I quote: “Are we a nation of gun nuts or just nuts?” is a sort of critical view of American society, he uses an ironical word “Nuts” associated with gun. The title “Bowling for Columbine” refers to the tragedy which occurred in 1999. Two armed teenagers killed 12 people in their high school before committing suicide. More generally, S. Jeffries explores through the documentary the cause of the violence with guns.

The film consists of four main parts depicting the American’s culture as dangerous due to free sale of guns in the US, I quote: “he opens a bank account and receives a free gun”. Even young people can easily buy a gun in a supermarket which sells bullets at a low price I quote:”in 1999 were bought for 17 cents each from a Wal-Mart supermarket”. Part of population thinks that it's her duty to defend the country and families I quote: “it’s an American responsibility to be armed”. In the Michael Moore's interview of Charlton Heston, president of the National Rifle Association who explains that violence with guns is caused by US history I quote:” we have history of violence” while M. Moore replies that some others countries like Britain or Germany have proved the opposite. The film tries also to explain why the American society seems to be so violent. In fact, the NRA led by Charlton Heston relies on Amendment to the US constitution which gives the right to have an arm. The journalist explains that according to Moore's theory, the violence in the US may be explained by fear and remind to the reader the American history with following examples: persecution of the Pilgrims Fathers, the Indians’ massacre, the witch hunt in the 17th century, the war of Independence and finally the civil war in Northern States related to slavery.

To conclude, this text delivers a reflection on violence in America and sets out to discover the facts explaining the gun culture in American Society. It suggests that fear, enhanced by the media’s obsession with death and violent crime, maybe the root cause of America gun problem. Nowadays, reducing the gun violence is quite impossible as long as America has the right to keep and bear arms in accordance with Constitution.

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