America is a country with twice the number of gun owners than anywhere else in the world. This prevalence has been proven to be directly linked to the number of mass shootings. And yet, no administration has found the abolition of guns a vote winner. What do Americans want?

Many gun owners, when asked, say they carry a gun for self defence. In my view this is like saying they have a movie facility on their camera because they want to make block busting feature films. Storage, familiarisation, maintenance, firearm safety, traumamantic wound treatment, target practice, and scenario simulation is not something obtained from a gun store.

Why do police forces in America allocate time and resources to officers in the use of guns, whilst citizens do not?

What problem does citizen gun ownership solve? For the founding fathers who had seen revolution and tyranny in Europe, they wanted to know that a citizen militia could overthrow a malevolent government. That is understandable although raises the question what is the difference between a righteous citizen militia and a rebellious section of society seeking to challenge government by the use of force. Were the confederate soldiers ‘rebels’ or a righteous militia?

Why is the second amendment ambiguous? It declares the right for militias to be formed and then adds that the people can bear arms. Are these the same? Did they mean ‘people’ as in a militia made up from the ranks of the ‘people’? Whatever was intended, today the result is that anybody has the right to carry a weapon whether they are part of the National Guard, or not.

So Americans defend the right to amateurism at it’s most extreme, and are surprised when it all goes wrong mass shootings occur? Or parents mistakenly shoot their teenage sons and daughters returning late at night through the bedroom window.

Fighting is not natural to most people. Children include fighting in their learning, but after a certain age most abandon violence as a way to settle disputes. Self defence is usually only necessary when a random event takes place over which the victim has no control. For instance returning to a parked car late at night you are approached by a group of men in hoodies who demand your wallet and threaten violence. Even in this situation, violent self defence is not necessary. You just hand over your wallet. Self defence relates to one’s body, not property or territory, or even someone else’s body…except in the case of a parent and child or adult physically or mentally vulnerable person.

Many teenagers in the United Kingdom carry knives for ‘self defence’. They have watched the films where the Karate Kid or John Wayne magically over come an enemy. How about that showgirl who throws a knife and pins the sheriffs hat to the door. Great isn’t it? But real life is not as simple. Buying a knife is simple but knowing how to use it to defend oneself, is not. Ask a professional knife fighter and if you are still keen, sign up for a two year course and health insurance.

Even when you learn to fight with no weapon, the best advise I was ever given was run. That advice was given me by a European Karate Champion who was teaching street fighting.

So America, again I ask the question what problem are you trying to solve with gun ownership? If you want to feel safe in the streets there are a hundred ways of achieving this before you reach ‘carrying a gun’. If you don’t want a fool for a president, don’t vote for one. Walking into Washington as part of an ‘America for Americans’ armed militia  you will all be shot because the police and military train to do that, you don’t.

In reality America has created a public health problem as a result of gun ownership. Mass shootings are measured by dead bodies, but don’t forget the wounded. And as in all violent acts, there is a ripple effect of fear and confusion through the families and communities in which these acts take place. The health of American citizens is being seriously ravaged by gun ownership, and if a constitution ever needed amendment, now is the time.