We want weapons and ammunition

We want weapons and ammunition
By ROLAND QAFOKU

To come out in the streets of Albania without a gun and then complain of getting killed is the same as if someone goes out without an umbrella in London and complains of getting wet. This is how Edith Durham defined the relation that Albanians had with weapons more than a century ago. The surprising thing is that even in 2017, the weapon is still seen as a vital object of the body. The number of people who were killed during 2016 was 120 and with the current pace of crime in Albania, this figure may be higher at the end of 2017. All of these murders have been carried out by using weapons without permits. Murders have become so common that they no longer make the headlines on papers and TV. What is the solution to all this? Supplying people with weapons. From the beginning of 2015 until now, police have supplied 301 people with gun permits. At first glance, it looks like a small figure, but the number of requests is alarming. Data show that there are thousands of requests made by businessmen, entrepreneurs, high ranking officials and also common people. Meanwhile, within the state structure, there are around 10 thousand police officers, military, officials, judges, prosecutors and mayors who have been supplied with weapons based on a special law. By making a simple calculation, there are around 25 thousand Albanians who own a gun with permit, based on the law. While we always hear about cases when people are killed with unlicensed, nobody can supply us with an accurate figure of the number of people who own an unlicensed gun and who have not carried out any crimes. Police information shows that the 1997 syndrome left serious consequences among the population. The number of unlicensed guns in circulation is estimated to be the same as the number of licensed guns. At home or hidden, buried or left in abandoned premises, each of them is potentially dangerous in committing crimes. But what does supplying the population with weapons mean? Besides the constant desire and passion to have a weapon, criminality, insecurity and the thought that one day it will serve to defend oneself against someone, are some of the reasons that push people to own a weapon. We should add on top of this the effect and the consequences left by the spreading of cannabis. It’s true that there are no more cannabis roots around the country, but the seed that was planted in the minds of common Albanians and the poisoning effects on the population will continue to exist for a long time.

Officially, it has been admitted that there have been around 30 drug motivated murders committed within a very short period of time. Areas of influence, deals gone wrong and rivalry, are some of the reasons for these murders. As a result, a part of the population doesn’t trust police to protect their lives and instead, they buy guns.

It’s almost the same mentality that existed during the communist regime when everyone was armed to fight against the imaginary enemy. Meanwhile, military depots had weapons and ammunition to last for one year. This obsession was also reflected in the songs of that period. Everyone who lived throughout that period can remember the song “I want weapons and ammunition…”, sang by Vera Dervishi. In the clip appeared a woman wearing military clothes and who requested weapons and ammunition to fight against the fascists. A typical obsession with no value whatsoever, at a time that World War II had ended 30 years ago.

The surprising thing consists of the fact that almost the same mentality exists today. It’s easy to encounter weapons. As soon as two people have a row, they insult each other, they punch each other and in the end, they take out their weapons. As soon as two cars are involved in accidents, however small and insignificant the accident may be, the drivers take out their guns. One can often see weapons in the hands of children. Playing with handguns or machine guns has spread like an epidemic. God knows why parents encourage their children to play such games.

God knows how these children will be tomorrow, when they grow up, while in childhood, the machine gun was their most beloved toy. This is a mentality that the grown up passes on to the little one. A part of the people who own a gun consider themselves as more honest, because they obtain a permit for their gun. I can understand security personnel in a private company when it is equipped with guns. I can also understand the fact that a businessman’s bodyguard should carry a gun. But I don’t understand why a businessman should carry a weapon, why an MP should carry a weapon and why should a common person carry a weapon. What do they need it for? Even if it comes to the worst scenario, can the gun protect their life? So, what do they need it for? Who will they shoot? Their family, wife, children or parents, as it’s often the case? So, before issuing gun permits, police and state must disarm this population in physical terms and in their minds. And there is only one way to do this: By establishing law and order in order for Durham’s words to remain a bitter memory of a century ago. But that was then and now is now. We live in 2017.

Note: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Albanian Free Press’ editorial policy

 

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