Stop illegal guns and violence

It is the worst mass shooting in the history of the United States to date.

Stephen Paddock’s murderous actions that have led to the killing of 59 people and the injury of 527 when he mowed down concert goers at the Las Vegas Strip hotel and casino continues to dominate headlines around the globe.

While his motive is not yet known, what dominates debates after this kind of mass murder in the US that unfortunately happen too often for comfort, is the issue of gun control in country where it is seemingly much easier to purchase a gun quicker than you can buy a loaf of bread over the counter.

When 64-year old Paddock was found dead, after committing suicide when cops closed in on him, it is said that over 10 guns were found in his hotel room.

One of the first questions asked was how Paddock could easily buy so many guns and bring them to the hotel undetected to carry out this deadly attack.

Indeed, when it comes to the progun lobby protecting their rights to own as many guns as they wish, it is impossible to have a rational debate.

In fact the state of Nevada is one of the highest ranking states in America when it comes to machine gun tourism where tourists are invited by shooting ranges to rent and have the opportunity to fire various types of guns, a fact the anti-gun lobby have criticised for normalising and promoting gun violence.

Indeed Paddock chose one such state to blend in as a licensed gun owner but sadly went on to massacre innocent people.

Back home here in South Africa, the issue of gun control manifests itself in a different scenario with murders committed by illegal guns.

Indeed as a nation we have lost many of our police officers who were targeted by criminals whose primary aim was to steal the guns for nefarious acts.

We are still reeling from one of the bloodiest weekends after 11 people were shot dead at Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East, Western Cape.

A community activist claims 39 people have been killed since July, mainly by gunfire.

Gun control should be about clamping down mercilessly on syndicates enabling crime by selling illegal weapons in this country and across it borders.