There were once two peaceful sister towns, Lala and Vala, where crime was minimal. The police of this town held the most important job, the greatest fame and respect; no one dared wag a tail against the law…until one sunny day in December.
Two big bangs…then silence…then cries…and for the first time, blood and motionless people lay on the border of Lala and Vala. Some new visitor had gunned down two teens and robbed them of their money, followed by their lives, and then the lives of two couples, who couldn’t bear to see their kids motionless. Both cities wept, mourned and sat through vigil. The police force was heavily condemned for failing their duty—the 50 officers with 50 guns of the town couldn’t protect two teens from one armed man. Perhaps, more guns were required.
The Lala Mayor met with his council and immediately decided that protection was needed. The American constitution itself ensured protection of arms, and a few guns in the hands of adults would scare off any attackers. Within two hours, the bill was signed, and the gun company, “Let’s Kill” found heavy profits in the town. And as the teens and adults now held guns, they saw some gray shadow walking toward them, barely alive.
Once again, the people were happy, and the sun shone more brightly than ever in Lala. The Lala mayor urged Vala to enact the same bill, but they refused. And life went on for weeks and months and years, until one shining day in October.
Three big bangs…then silence…then cries…and for the second time, blood and motionless people lay on the streets. Upon investigation, two drunk Lala adults were convicted of murdering two Lala teens. The despondent parents fought for revenge, enraged that the usage of guns killed their children. And the mayor replied: “We should have given guns to the teens as well…the fault lies there.” And the bill was modified.
Then for weeks and months, there was a routine life. Only, the sun was shining heavier than ever…must be a good sign for Lala. At the round table conference, Lala and Vala tallied up their crime rate at the end of the year...and Vala’s was surprisingly lower…by ten percent. The Lala mayor was outrageously jealous, and immediately signed another bill permitting school children to have guns. Surely, that would give more protection, especially to kids. Then he retired inside his room…but thought he saw a black shadow…now laughing sadistically.
Once again, the people were happy, and the sun now scorched so greatly…surely the bright sun was a good sign. And life went on for weeks and months and years…but this time there were 365 bangs and 450 deaths.
Parents wailed and cried and thrashed the Lala mayor. They could not understand where they went wrong; the parents had always ensured the best protection for their children, and always ensured that the kids knew how to use guns in perilous situations. Weary and fatigued, the Lala residents all slept at the graveyard…under the unbearably scorching heat….the sun was intensely shining….it didn’t make sense. Then, they saw a dark gnarly figure walking toward them. It was laughing and sniveling and ripping their hearts. It was fear…now murderous.
Violence isn’t the answer to violence. In competition to surpass the USSR, America built several catastrophic nuclear weapons, but the disasters in Iran and Chernobyl illustrate the futility of such an act. Similarly, today there may be 10 harassers who disturb the public. But with the gun act enforced, 1000 people can harass one another, exploiting in the name of protection. Yesterday it was for the adults, today for the college students, and then tomorrow it will be for the toddlers. Where is the limit…or improvement? Gun control is essentially only a counterintuitive feeling; the sun may shine very brightly today, but the stronger the sunlight, the more intense the shadow. The more protection we think gun possession will provide, the stronger the bloodshed will become.
