"After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. I sure as hell wouldn't want to live in a society where the only people allowed guns are the police and the military"
- William S. Burroughs
About this Quote
William S. Burroughs' quote touches upon the controversial and polarizing concern of weapon control and the societal response to violence. At its core, the quote shows Burroughs' suspicion of restricting weapon ownership as a service to gun violence, a subject that is deeply engrained in American sociopolitical discourse.
Burroughs indicates that after terrible shooting occurrences, there is a tendency for policymakers and society to respond by enforcing more stringent gun control laws. These laws typically impact obedient citizens instead of the perpetrators themselves. He argues that this technique may not deal with the origin of violence, and rather, it could unjustly penalize people who properly own guns.
The quote likewise expresses a distrust of a society where only the authorities and military have access to firearms. Historically, the right to bear arms has been seen by numerous as a fundamental liberty created to secure people versus tyranny and oppression. By picturing a world where just state forces are equipped, Burroughs mentions a possible imbalance of power in between the federal government and its citizens. Such a circumstance may evoke worries of authoritarianism or an authorities state where individuals lack means of self-defense.
Furthermore, this point of view is rooted in a wider libertarian perspective that values individual liberty and personal obligation. It questions whether deactivating the general public truly leads to greater safety, or simply provides more control to the state. Burroughs raises concerns about the trade-offs in between security and flexibility-- balancing public security with safeguarding individual rights.
In essence, Burroughs' quote welcomes us to seriously examine how societies respond to gun violence and challenges the idea that fewer guns unquestionably correspond to a safer world. It underscores the value of thinking about the wider implications of gun control policies and highlights the continuing argument over how to finest make sure security while protecting specific liberties.