Perspectives on Gun Violence in East Africa.

I have long been aware of the violence in various places in Africa, before coming here. I just read this article yesterday, however. I must say, I have a different perspective on the entire state of affairs from the perspective of having lived here now for some months. This is exactly the place where I would love to hang out and take a swallow of the familiar in.

I go to Nakumatt (one of the stores that was shot up) all the time. My girls beg to go there. It is the Target/Kmart of East Africa.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/09/20/nairobi-kenya-westgate-mall-attack-al-shabab/

While I believe in the 2nd Amendment and it generally a good idea for Americans to be able to be armed to protect themselves, it appears to be a worse idea in light of recent school shooting and other such events. Ultimately, America will have to decide for itself whether or not they retain this particular out-living of the second amendment.

But for other nations, like Uganda, who's population and social dynamics are very different, I would venture to say that if a vast populace of common citizens were to own guns like US citizens, Uganda, perhaps even Africa, would turn into a blood bath. Various aspects of this article hint at the disaster in store for the common citizen to be armed.

(1) In the 2nd to last paragraph, it is said that the Kenyan army looted the place. They were caught on closed circuit TV. They also had a friendly fire shoot-out with the special anti-terrorist team in the mall because each team didn't know the other existed or was a part of the rescue operations. Lack of coordination was a culprit in making the situation worse than it had to be. Having hired guns who's priority is to capitalize personally whenever and wherever possible was a further insult to injury. That these factors foiled this rescue operation is a no brainer. This is modus operandi for most encounters in daily life in Uganda. Uncoordinated gun power is extremely deadly as a few victims of friendly fire found out. Further, so is a hired gun who has ulterior aspirations.

(2) There were a few lone responders who's ways of conducting themselves is comparable to those who carry in the US for protection and to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights. Nura was one of those people. But these type of free thinking self propelled individuals are few and far between in countries who's histories include colonization and dictators. The population redefines the term sheeple. Nura's first encounter at the mall included running into a group of armed soldiers "standing around." I've been through the security checks at Nakumatt. At best they are a joke. someone looks around in your car and waves you through. The security guards holding guns look like teenagers and occasionally beg for cash. This is merely another image of what guns look like in the hands of the average population in East Africa. Not to devalue these people, they have their gifts, however, independent thinking and creative problem solving and initiative is a rare commodity in a population beaten into submission by colonizing and dictatorial forces.