This article, written by
Timothy Egan, was published in The New York Times on May 14, 1992, directly in
the wake of the protests and riots that engulfed the city of LA. The
article describes a growing trend in California at the time, as well as other
areas in the U.S., of purchasing firearms. The rise in purchase of firearms and
shooting lessons was contributed to mostly by “wealthier, mostly white sections
of West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.” Egan explains this as a response
by Californians, fearful of looters and rioters coming in to their homes, to
take safety into their own hands if the police will not be able to provide
it. For many citizens, the perception
was that the police will always step in to serve and protect, but the actions
taken by the LAPD during the riots, or rather inaction proved otherwise. The
move of Californians to purchase their own guns was a step away from public
safety enforcement, placing trust instead in their own devices to ensure their
protection.
-Emma Kirkegaard
No comments:
Post a Comment