It has been a bloody week for the US after approximately 20 people were killed while several critically injured in a string of incidents — seven mass shooting events occurring in a span of seven days. The most recent one took place on March 22 when a gunman armed with a semiautomatic rifle and a pistol killed 10 people at a grocery store in Colorado.
Throughout history, the US has notoriously been known for gun violence. More than 342,439 people have been killed by firearms between 2008 and 2017. Even the deadly pandemic has not been able to curb the ordeal, with 20,000 Americans killed in 2020 alone — a record year for gun violence. The recent surge in gun violence against Asian Americans, a phenomenon which emerged after Trump’s statements about the “Chinese virus”, points towards the racial hierarchy that is deeply intertwined with the issue. However, despite extensive debates regarding gun control, no significant legislative action has been taken on the matter.
While some quote the Second Amendment to claim their right to bear arms, others suggest a blanket ban on all types of weapons. But, can we find a middle ground? In theory, the only possible way the right to bear any sort of weapon can be upheld is if it is for the safety and protection of oneself and one’s family. Thus, the sale and purchase of any military-style weapon should automatically be banned since such “genocidal machines” were made to inflict as much damage as possible. Furthermore, since the intent is to protect and not to kill, other less dangerous alternatives such as a tasers, pepper spray or rubber bullets can be used for self defence.
In the wake of these killings, the government needs to amend laws and invest in the manufacture of non-lethal weapons as a suitable substitute. With many claiming this to be a “public health crisis”, the problem of mental health and racism needs to be equally addressed. The safety of citizens should be the top most priority.
Arrest of hoarders
The mist of astonishment and confusion enveloping the abnormal increase in the price of sugar last year is gradually clearing away. This will also make people understand why political parties, despite their differing viewpoints, join hands to resist greater measures for accountability. The FIA has arrested, in various cities of Punjab, a gang of hoarders and speculators who engineered the previous year’s artificial shortage of the commodity that led to a steep rise in its price. The agency claims that the gang is part of a powerful sugar mafia.
As a result of the skullduggery of the mafia bosses and their underlings, the price of sugar had jumped to Rs90 a kg from Rs70 within a short time. The mafia allegedly made a hefty gain of Rs110 billion through price manipulation and hoarding of the daily-use commodity. These unscrupulous elements also opened a large number of fake bank accounts to carry out the big transactions in pursuit of their huge profits. The gang members are said to be enjoying the backing of highly influential politicians who own big guar mills. The FIA laid its hands on the gang members through continued surveillance of mobile phones and other electronic gadgets they used in their nefarious activities. The agency will take action against the sugar mafia under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, which is aimed at putting an end to the mafia activities once and for all.
The government ordered a probe into the affairs of the sugar trade after the sharp rise in the price of the sweetener. The inquiry commission in its report claimed that prominent political families of the country largely benefited from the price gouging scandal accusing them of earning illegal profits of billions of rupees. They allegedly made an enormous amount of money through fraudulent means. Later, the FBR recovered Rs404 billion in taxes mills had evaded from 2015 to 2019. The realisation of the evaded taxes will bring into the state coffers the much-needed money to ease the country’s economic woes.
