The weapons of my friends floridiens

Marie Poupart

Saturday, 17 February, 2018 01:00

UPDATE
Saturday, 17 February, 2018 01:00

Look at this article

Collaborator of the Journal and author of the book Florida : 700 good addresses and the beatings of the heart of 40 stars, Mary Poupart has seen how the gun culture is deeply rooted in the “Sunshine State” since it has an address for service. In the wake of the killings occurred in a secondary school in Parkland, she delivers here his observations.

“Since I live in Florida, I have to admit that I constantly live with this idea in mind, that one day, perhaps, I could I also be the victim of a crazed gunman.

Several of my friends, people very as it should be — as they would say in Quebec — are armed. They are teachers, engineers, biologists.

Not later than the last weekend, by pure coincidence, I visited a Gun Show in West Palm Beach, because I’m curious and because I accompanied friends who practice the shooting sports.

Americans love this kind of events. It is possible to buy firearms of all kinds, and above all, we can look at, to touch… “admire”.

These large rooms popular are held in most cities in Florida, and sometimes several times a month. It advertises very regularly on the radio, in newspapers and on huge billboards along highway 95. Gun Show, Gun Show, Gun Show !

A gift from the NRA

During my stay, the parking lot was filled to overflowing, hundreds of visitors crowded and the entry price was more than affordable : $ 10 per. It is really cheap to admire firearms state of the art.

And oh ! surprise, members of the NRA, the National Rifle Association, the powerful lobby of the firearms, were present. By becoming a member, you could access the Gun Show free of charge, without taking out a penny from his pocket. A small gift from the association…

In entering the enormous exhibition hall, which was not my amazement to see the vast amount of weapons available. Hundreds of firearms of all kinds to attract the largest possible number of people. The young woman, white collar, passing by the young people and families.

Like toys

There is everything for all tastes : rifles, revolvers, shotguns, machine guns. Ammunition in abundance, put forth by vendors completely so taken from their toys, passionate people who can tell you about it for hours.

I’ve seen weapons colorful design to attract young people.

Weapons that looked like real LEGO. Arms pink, white, green to coordinate the weapon with the nail Polish or the clothing of the lady.

In Florida, it trivialises the weapon by giving him colors and styles of attractive, well maybe to disguise its primary function, and it’s all for a very low cost. We can, indeed, get a gun for about $ 150 at a Gun Show.

And what about the public ! I saw in this wildlife babies and young children. Little girls or little boys as tall as three apples that déambulaient with their dad among this arsenal. I am frankly asked what children could do well there…

At Walmart also

Many of the visitors bought. In many cases, I would have personally had a reluctance to sell weapons to some of them who wore tronches of hard-to-cook or the people to whom I would not have trusted.

But there are many more that have huge gun shows.

A few hours after the tragedy in Parkland, I went by curiosity in a Walmart near me to see that it sold actually tens of firearms at affordable prices. Same thing for stores sporting goods Dick’s Sporting Good (a kind of Sports Experts).

Another example, at Publix, this major food chain comparable to IGA or Metro, appears an array of magazines devoted to handguns. These publications alongside simply reviews of cuisine or fashion, the scope of children and adolescents.

A taboo subject

Most of my friends floridiens possess weapons. And don’t tell them about restrictions on their right… I would lose these friends.

The right to possess a firearm is regarded as “inviolable” for them and for the majority of their fellow citizens.

Even if, according to recent figures, there are in the United States more than 90 deaths by firearm every day in the country of Uncle Sam.

Will things change one day ? More and more voices are heard to this effect, but, will they counter the powerful lobbies and convince the Americans to change their constitution ? Nothing is less sure. Then, unfortunately, one is likely to find the same headlines month after month… “