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In India, even supporting the idea of owning a gun is an exception, thanks to the ideas of Gandhi and Ahimsa.
No wonder all forgot Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Kunwar Singh and many more.
After the mutiny of 1857, the British lords were trying to ensure every step to avoid any further revolt by Indians against the oppressive foreign government. One of the steps was to improve British Army and restructuring the administration and strengthening the ways of communication and transportation. On the other hand, British were also engaged in disarming Indians completely and destroying the local firearm production completely to avoid any further chances of mutiny.
It was during that time when Lord Lytton as Viceroy (1874 -1880) proposed the Indian Arms Act in 1878. The Indian Arms Act exempted British and ruled that an Indian could hold a weapon “only if” the British masters considers and declares him a “Loyal” servant.
The idea of importance of disarming the public was not new and James Burgh exclaimed it in 18th century as—
“No kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the people. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave. He, who has nothing, and who himself belongs to another, must be defended by him, whose property he is, and needs no arms. But he, who thinks he is his own master, and has what he can call his own, ought to have arms to defend himself, and what he possesses; else he lives precariously, and at discretion.” — James Burgh (Political Disquisitions: Or, an Enquiry into Public Errors, Defects, and Abuses) [1774-1775]
Although Indians always respected the ideals of Ahimsa, and regarded Gandhi as the Mahatma, but what were Gandhi’s own views about the Gun-Control?
Gandhi criticized the Gun-Control law vehemently and said—
“Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest.” — Mahatma Gandhi (An Autobiography OR The story of my experiments with truth, by M.K. Gandhi, p.238)
British had a reason to oppose freedom of Indians to own a gun, an instrument for self-defense, but after the Independence, it was well-sought by the Indians that such ridiculous and anti-freedom act will be removed as soon as possible.
India got independence in 1947, yet it took almost 12 years to repeal the Indian-Arms-Act. In 1959, free Indian government denounced the Indian Arms Act of 1878 and enacted the Arms Act of 1959. Nevertheless, India was still struggling with the distrust of government against its own people. The Indian Government started License-Raj and the legislation gave enormous powers to the Licensing Authority to decide whether a common honest law abiding citizen can hold a gun or not.
It was the era of communistic impressions on India
“A system of licensing and registration is the perfect device to deny gun ownership to the bourgeoisie.” — Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
As all other departments, government strictly controlled the arms production and private arms manufacturing industry completely.
Obviously, it was all done to reduce the ongoing dangers of secession at Kashmir, Punjab, Assam, Mizoram and Nagaland borders, and to decrease the dangers of Naxalism.
However, during the mid 1980’s the government put an end to all small arms import because of the rising dangers of terrorism and seized the little freedom for private arms manufacturing units.
Government never considered that not a single terrorist or criminal ever used a licensed arm; still it made owning an arm legally near to impossible. Thus, the honest law abiding citizen was disarmed completely.
On the other hand, the black market of illegal arms started flourishing in every next city of India and crime kept increasing continuously.
It is a fact that licensed arms are far less dangerous than motorcycles or city buses.
It is also a fact that Gun-Control provides a certainty to the criminal that the victim, who mostly is an honest law-abiding citizen, is unarmed. The situation goes as-
Less guns, more crimes.
Most violent crimes, including the terrorist attacks and religious riots are committed using illegal arms and there is no way to trace and stop the illegal arms trade. Terrorists or underworld criminals are not going to respect gun-control laws, they seldom respects any law. They will be willing to gain any arms of their choice and will use them to commit crimes. Government always ignored the fact that in India it is much easier and cheaper to buy an illegal weapon than to own a legal weapon, and why will a criminal or terrorist try to get a legal weapon? Legal weapon are for self-defence by the law-abiding citizens only, and government makes them rare, government makes it impossible for the honest citizen to defend himself against the criminals.
Who can oppose owning a gun for self-defence? Who can oppose the right to self-defence?
“If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.” — The Dalai Lama, (May 15, 2001, The Seattle Times)
Was it possible for the rioting mob of Aligarh and Bhopal in 1993 to kill those hundreds of innocent if they had a gun, an instrument for their self-defence? Was Godhra riot or Best Bakery massacre, or Mumbai Riots or Golden temple Massacre possible if the common law-abiding citizen had a chance to defend himself?
We say our sisters and mothers to learn martial arts to defend themselves against the rapists and women haters. How would a rapist be able to abduct a working girl while returning from her work to rape her if he knows she owns a gun for her self-defense? At present, he knows she has no way to defend herself, her cries will not be strong enough to call back some cop to defend her and he attacks the girls freely, but what if he comes to realize that she can shoot him pretty well.
When a person owns a gun, he becomes godlike with special powers to harm and attack others. When a person owns a bike, he becomes godlike to run faster than the air. Do all bike owners commits accidents and kill people on roads through rash driving? So yes, it may be a case that some people may abuse the gun-power but mostly owning a gun makes a person responsible and careful enough to use it properly. Can anyone deny that despite of all dangers of road accidents, bikes, cars, and mopeds are a necessary need and a modern power as bless of god for the common man? A legal gun will be just another power for the honest citizen against the criminals to defend self.
Arms are free for the criminals and terrorists. Crimes and riots are free for the criminals and evil doers. However, when the evil-doers and criminals know it with certainty that the honest law-abiding citizen is defenseless; they become more audacious and adamant. If the Law-Abiding citizen owns the guns, the power to defend themselves against any sort of riots or crimes, it is clear that no or very few will even think and try to create any riot on the name of religion or caste.
Some people wonder on the removal of gun-control, will the violence increase abruptly.
Guns are not necessary for killing and domestic violence is already up. Nevertheless, if the physical weakness of women against the violent male is counter equated by the ownership of gun by a woman, it will certainly reduce the chances of domestic violence.
As a matter of fact, Indian Laws or so much strict that a common citizen cannot even hold a stick, on the other hand, even the constables are now allowed to hold a gun but they are empowered with Lathis, Lathis to lathicharge the mob.
A Mob with illegal guns and grenades can not be controlled by lathis.
When the police cannot defend itself, how is it going to defend a common citizen?
The honest law-abiding citizen needs to demand for the right of self-defence, and government should help him by removing gun-control.
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1 views23 Responses to “Does it make sense to you?”
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GP Says:
December 1st, 2008 at 3:52 pmSO whts wrong in compelling all ppl to full-fill required formalities(docs/approvals) in getting license to get gun?..Don’t forget there are many deaths in US schools and colleges due to senseless freedom and no control over guns. I guess in india only criminals and local thugs own illegal guns so its not a situation like - “YOU can’t own guns unless you have license and it pose grave danger to your lives I mean those who are under constand death threat can anyways have guns by hook or crook(thnx to pathetic law and order situation and lack of resources to check/verify licenses of weapons)” ..I also wonder sometimes why celebrities like Bachhan and co think about having gun at their pillow(to get cheap publicity?/more readers for his blog) despite having security blanket provided 24*7 by state govt.
Unpretentious Diva Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 amSo you want to say there is nothing wrong in “compelling” people ?
What was wrong in Britishers to compel Indians to accept their lordships?
How many were killed during those senseless behavior?
Are there no Senseless attacks on innocent citizens by the illegal arm guns in India? Are you sure you are talking sense? Infact you are ******* the definition of sense.
You cannot stop a mad criminalistic mind from aquiring a gun. Yet you can control a honest citizen to buy a gun for his own safety against the criminal. And by doing so, you do confirms his death against the criminals.
That is the reason why crimes are more in India. “crimes related to abuse of guns. The only difference is, the guns used in India are always illegal. And the victims cannot safeguard themselves against the criminals anyhow.”
And how do you think you are any better than Mukhtar Abbas naqvi who claimed that the protests by mumbaikars against the government and politicians take on recent terrorist attacks is fake?
Why do you think that your concerns are real but if Amitabh kept a gun under his pillow in order to remain alert against any sort of danger is a public stunt?
Was Taj Heritage not under special security cell? What do you think, Taj Hotel was without any private security while all sorts of VVIP’s were sitting in there?
Try to gather how senseless your comment is.
renegade_division Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:52 amYou’re retarded, why would Amitabh Bacchan try for cheap publicity to his blog??
I mean if I said that I slept with a gun under my pillow it would make sense, why would Amitabh Bacchan would like to say such a thing?
Maybe Amitabh Bacchan wants to increase his Google Ads revenue in the time of a recession! Yeah that makes sense.
The Lover Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:36 amDamn. Your blog hit me hard. Probably the first one I came across that talks about social issues.
renegade_division Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:38 am@The Lover
We appreciate your words! Your words mean a lot to us.
We try really hard to maintain the quality of articles, on our blog(that’s why most of our posts are long and cannot be called as blog posts), but unfortunately we don’t have that much exposure on blogsphere.
We would highly appreciate word of mouth for us.
Sushant Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:45 pmI am in full agreement with the author of the post. It is high time that we re look into the age old victorian laws and change them. I think every individual has a right to protect oneself from dangers posed by terrorists and other armed miscreants. I wonder if people would have been carrying guns when they were attacked in mumbai they would have had some chance to protect themselves.
GP Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:50 pmHow many were killed during those senseless behavior?
<<<certanily a lot of innocent children and youth.>>>
Are there no Senseless attacks on innocent citizens by the illegal arm guns in India? Are you sure you are talking sense? Infact you are ******* the definition of sense.
<<<Here you go!!and thats exactly wht my point is. As per your article if everyone is free to buy guns and bullets from shops just like we buy groceries or clothes in INDIA
then imagine how much easier for any psychopath to follow route of instant justice and to be honest, ppl need not go to cops even to register FIR..needless to say -
constant prevalence of fear factor among citizens (coz situation will be like “everybody have the guns and I am not sure wht he/she upto”)..India Already have had enough of violence due to gangwars,communal riots,stree crimes,burglaries etc.
so easier access to guns without any control(i.e. license system) will only make situation worse than the current one.>>>>
Why do you think that your concerns are real but if Amitabh kept a gun under his pillow in order to remain alert against any sort of danger is a public stunt?
<< reason is simple : - he is celebrity and I am not!! so even if I stage protest on INDIA GATE(which i won’t do ofcouse coz I am not hogging for any limelight and neither expect to be centre of attraction and for caching on current situation.)
nobody will give a damn considering its quite trivial in front of a lot bigggggggggger PLIGHT and CONCERN of Mr. Bachhan. >>>
Was Taj Heritage not under special security cell? What do you think, Taj Hotel was without any private security while all sorts of VVIP’s were sitting in there?
<<<I am not sure whether you watched Mr. TATA’s interview on CNN but he specifically mentioned that they do received threats and warnings for attackes and they did put in place metal detectors and sniffer dogs in place
but the terrorists were so brilliant in their plan that they went through back door of kitchen(which nobody expected and seriously think to be rememebers as lesson learned)>>>
Unpretentious Diva Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:00 pmAnd that count is much much less than the number of innocent which gets killed because they have no means to safeguard themselves.
So how logical it is that since some people are rash drivers hence motorcycles cars and buses should be banned from roads?
It is simply a ridiculous argument.
Our people read about once in 2 or 3 years gun shooting incident in US and rant about it, forgetting the fact that general crimes are far less there when compared to India. crime reporting and crime conviction rate are also high there which is what our commons don’t understand when they compared statistics.
Are you mad? Guns are with the criminals and not with the innocent people who have no way to defend themselves. Why the heck you want them to die and being killed?
You have no way to stop illegal guns. You can stop only honest citizens from having a way to defend themselves.
Guns do not kill, criminals kills. One more thing, have you ever heard of SIKHS? They carries swords with them. Are there any cases of irresponsible violence by sikhs because sikh carries a weapon alongwith them?
Listen idiot if a girl is being raped, she won’t be going to report police, she will try to defend herself right at the point of attack.
If a person is being shot down by looters or being looted at the gun point, he won’t be crying for police protection. Why do you want yourself to be so lame and lazy that you even do not want to defend yourself?
Reason is simple you are dumb enough to accept a man’s understanding of the danger and his try to ensure his way to defend himself. Reason is simple, you enjoy trying to
“compel” people for your own mad ideas.
Why are you not sure that there is nothing which I don’t know about the attack?
Do you think only you have proper understanding?
In fact even the Maharashtra government recieved a warning, even ATS was warned by UP police and STF against a ongoing planning to attack Taj and Obeori trident., Even RAW informed about the possibilities.
Yet, terrorists did that? Why? because they were being supported by some supernatural power? Allah?
What do you think brilliant is?
Is this brilliant that when the terrorists were shooting against innocent people at Leopold restaurant, the people had no way to defend and attack the terrorist?
And what do you want people to do? if some one is killing innocent people openly on roads, should people keep on watching the drama and wait until someone may not report the police and police come in action? Don’t you feel shame about it?”
If ina hypothetical situation, Your sister is being attacked by some criminals, she will be raped by some people in front of your eyes, and you will NOT try to save her but will wait for some Police man to come and register your complain against the rapist? Now that is great. I am sure atleast your sister will try to safeguard herself against the rapist. And if she don’t do it, she do nothing to defend herself , then how it would be rape?
GP Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:53 pmSo how logical it is that since some people are rash drivers hence motorcycles cars and buses should be banned from roads?
It is simply a ridiculous argument.
Are you mad? Guns are with the criminals and not with the innocent people who have no way to defend themselves.
Why the heck you want them to die and being killed?
And what do you want people to do? if some one is killing innocent people openly on roads, should people keep on watching the drama and wait until someone may not report the police and police come in action? Don’t you feel shame about it?”
Hopothetically anything is possible including terrorist attack on your house or bomb blast while you are in process of replying to my comments
(God forbid it shudn’t happen) so lets not waste energy in thinking about hypothetical situations :)
gauragaurav Says:
December 7th, 2008 at 1:42 pmNice article and yes the first thing it reminded me of my fav songs By guns and roses “novemebre rain”,anywayz,it really seems all those gandhian movement getting inundated our cognitive system,we are simply looking stupid in this violent world.I remember one vey fine article which read once Manekshaw went to Gandhi askin him that the destiny of a soldier is to shoot to kill,what’s the significance of Non-violence in his life and how he shoud inculcate himself with it,Gandhi was unanswerable,he said i will answer later and unfortunately Gandhi was killed by a ‘Gun” before answering this,On any day all that Gandhian theory of Non-violence can be made to a enemy whose identity is known to you,who himself believes in anyform of institution,maybe capitalism,socialism,communism ,imperialism etc.,but Do you Gandhi born in austria During Hitler’s reign in a jewish family would have forced Hitler to let go all the jewish safe,he would have melt the Nazism,IT’s just utopian to even think tat,Terrorism,Nazism are no institution,You can’t abdicate their land,Never, Deafs don’t listen ,so it’s high time govt. of India also thinks of making every citizen of this India self securing.
Mayuresh Says:
December 10th, 2008 at 1:48 amCommon Indians become too aggressive at small issues.
rahul Says:
December 12th, 2008 at 12:38 pmi agree with the lenin quote,,,,,
the licensing of the guns should be limited
i live myself in US. here crime rate is definitely high and its not safe. u cant walk alone in the nights or you will face gangsters loaded with weapons. people with cars even rob anybody. if u refuse they wont think twice,,will kill you. black brothers rule here with guns
atleast in india u feel safe but not here…why the crimes are less compared to india is because of the police system which are more advanced and not corrupted like in our country. u will see the police cars near u within 2-3 minutes once crime is reported,,,its definitely not the case in india.
i know self securing is important but it will increase crimes.
renegade_division Says:
December 12th, 2008 at 12:54 pm@Rahul
Where do you live? What is your Visa status? And do you carry a gun?
renegade_division Says:
December 12th, 2008 at 1:02 pmYou feel safe in India because you are not a woman in India. Y
ou are safe because you are not one of the WEAK in India.
Just tell me one simple answer, would you be more safe living in Bihar, or in Brooklyn?
Unpretentious Diva Says:
December 12th, 2008 at 1:21 pm@ Rahul
Well, I can understand your dilema.
May be you haven’t got the citizenship till now.
I know foreigners are not allowed to keep guns there in america.
it is in fact a dichtomy.
Because the foreigner students and workers are not allowed to keep guns for their self defense until they get a permanent citizenship there, such students/workers becomes easy victims of burglary loot and other sorts of crime in America easily.
My brother is living there in Michigan. I have spent a good time in US too.
Crime is less out there because people have power to defend themselves.
Corruption or negligence of police is also a kind of crime. And the extent of such crime is immense in India.
Have you ever wondered why?
There are two reason for this.
1st is, Police itself is defenceless. No policeman (only rare) with a Lathi in his hand can dare to actually face a criminal who is holding a gun or a sword or even a dangerous knife. Why should a police man risk his life when he has no way to defend himself?
You think it is easy to sacrifice oneself for no proper cause.
Because even the police men the constables are not armed in India, crime rates are extreme. Even during the recent Mumbai blast, how did those police men catch the terrorist? By means of lathis, they did not have any weapon. What was the result? Many innocent were attacked killed or injured. And police constables had to wait until some rescue team may not reach to the terrorist site.
2nd reason is pretty common.
Police knows that the public has no proper power to revolt even if police commits deliberate corruption, negligence of duty or abuse of police power.
That is why there are so many cases of fake police encounters, and in fact, fake army encounters too in India.
Because the common man can be victimized by police but he has no way to defend himself.
rahul Says:
December 12th, 2008 at 1:52 pmYou feel safe in India because you are not a woman in India. Y
ou are safe because you are not one of the WEAK in India.
true,,, agreed
Just tell me one simple answer, would you be more safe living in Bihar, or in Brooklyn?
what u think, our country is only the sufferer in the world?
have u ever heard abt the terrorists attacks on wtc and pentagon which are one of the most secured places in the world,,,,more secured than mumbai hotels,,,evrything is planned by the terrorists.
u need to calm down, i understand what goes on to u. but u also need to understand that it will increase crime like anything. why dont u think about upgrading the police system than giving licenses to common ppl…licensing to evrybody will not increase security but it will increase fear/deaths/violence/crimes.
tell me what would u do, if u had gun and terrorists were fighting right in front of ur eyes? now give me answer waht difference will u make? u think laws are made by fools without seeing the consequences?
Unpretentious Diva Says:
December 12th, 2008 at 2:01 pm@ rahul
Even least upgraded, the policed is enough tyrant to keep looting the common people of India.
And by the way where from will you bring the MONEY required for the upgradation?
What do you think, resources and money falls from trees?
It comes from Indian tax payers.
To upgrade Indian Police as compared to LAPD etc, if you start wasting tax collected money, how will you keep doing the infrastructure development work and education for all programs and food for all initiatives and medicines for all subsidies by government?
Politicians and people like you may keep talking about upgrading police, but it can not be done.
It can not be done Not because politicians or people do not want it.
But because it is impossible in the absence of money and resources.
In USA there is a police security officer for every 1000 people, how many police stations are there in UP village areas?
forget about up-gradation, India even cannot provide a well trained police officer for every 1000 citizens of India.
And if you give lowest wages for police men, why will they join police force?
And if they join, why wont they take bribe and be corrupt to earn a good life?
For upgrading a police force, you cannot force millions of middle class Indians to go down turn and loose their life standards.
Already Indian middle class workers pays 48% of their earned money as taxes. What more do you want?
One more thing.
Last ONE year India faced 14 major terrorist attacks, and total 64 bomb blasts.
How many terrorist attacks US faced in last 6 years? ZERO.
renegade_division Says:
December 12th, 2008 at 2:16 pm@Rahul
You didn’t answer where in America do you live.
Please answer that first.
mk buses | Digg hot tags Says:
December 29th, 2008 at 5:59 pm[…] Vote Does it make sense to you? […]
The Hoplophobes | Reason for Liberty Says:
January 8th, 2009 at 2:26 pm[…] rate. In addition, numbers of unheard and unregistered cases of crimes in India are higher. In the previous article, we discussed how the idea of increase in domestic violence and homicide if guns are allowed, is […]
Grasshopper Says:
January 12th, 2009 at 1:52 pmI feel quite safe wherever I am. I often forget to lock my door when I go to the shop to buy groceries. I have not locked my gold ornaments because in my house I don’t have a lockable almira.
My kid has a toy gun gifted to him by his grandparents and I keep reminding him that a real gun hurts real bad, and that each time I see that toy gun in his hand I am reminded of the real gun.
When I go to a bank and see guns with the security guards, I feel like asking them ,’ Do you actually know how to use it?’
I did use a gun once, to remove a kite from a tree branch during last year’s Uttarayan.
I am a peace loving person, and to love peace you don’t need no guns, thank you very much.
Ayaan Says:
January 6th, 2010 at 1:09 am1) no one is stupid enough to own a registered gun and then use it to harm sumone. that is like printing your name all over the corpse. if one were to attempt some sort of crime involving a gun, common sense dictates that they would acquire one from the grey market even if they DID own a pretty good REGISTERED gun.
2)understand this. u have moral qualms about hurting someone with your firearm. CRIMINALS DONT. who is more likely to get hurt? thats right……… (^_^)
3)today some wannabe criminal gets an illegal revolver from they grey market, he’s gonna be supremely confident that his would-be victims won’t have one. imagine his feeling of empowerment in this situation.
*i have a gun and u don’t! HA HA HA. do as i say or else…..*
however if theres a slim chance that his victim might also possess a gun, he’s gonna think twice…no TEN times before whipping out his own.
no lust for pleasure exceeds one’s fear of death….(applies to criminals as well)
Abhijeet Singh Says:
January 11th, 2010 at 7:48 amHave you seen http://abhijeetsingh.com/blog/archive/2010-01-02/Draconian_new_amendments_-_req and http://abhijeetsingh.com/blog/archive/2010-01-06/SUMMARY_OF_WHAT_THE_HOME_MINIS
The law is all set to change for the worse, unless we do something to prevent it!
Cheers!
Abhijeet