Americans live in a disillusioned world. Any country where you can get firearms at a department store has surely gone wrong somewhere. It’s a little flabbergasting to know that when I trot into a mall to get my groceries, there’s a .45 on the shelf next to cocoa pops. Besides, there can be no greater sign of insecurity and fear.
But not all is lost yet. A year after the Virginia Tech massacre where 32 people were killed (only one in a series of shoot-outs in institutions all across the USA), and following much campaigning, Wal-Mart, the country’s largest seller of firearms finally agreed to a 10-point plan designed to prevent weapons falling into the hands of criminals.
Under the agreement with Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group led by New York’s mayor, Wal-Mart will tighten rules at about a third of its 3,200 stores across the country. A further third will stop trading guns altogether, though this is for reasons of declining sales,which is surely good news by itself. The new restrictions include more extensive background checks on Wal-Mart staff selling guns, and all firearms sales will be filmed.
Of course, there was opposition from the National Rifle Association (NRA), but it looks like their iron grip over the gun debate may finally be loosening. And hurray for that!
Via Guardian
Image msnbc
