Armed and Furious

I took notes on what I watched in this short documentary, produced by Murat Baykara and Mert Kaplan of Voys Media, which the Umut Foundation provides important content. I especially recommend paying attention to the statistics. You can read this article after watching it or before. I’m sharing:

Important statistics:

•  One in two people who buy a gun has a personality problem. One in three licensed gun owners has an anger problem. One in 10 licensed gun owners has an extreme level of addiction.
• There are 4 million licensed guns in Turkey, and 9 times that number are unlicensed.
• The total number of guns is close to 36 million. 1 in 2 men is armed.
• 5,000 people are killed with guns annually.
• 10 years ago, 50% of murders were committed with guns, while today, the rate is 85%.
• In a high school study, 50% of young people say, “I can obtain a gun within an hour.”
• 4% of murders in 2023 were committed with licensed weapons. 20% of these were femicides.
• If you already own a gun, the rate of violence increases fivefold. A gun somehow invites violence.
• Only 17% of licensed guns match the reason for purchasing that gun.
• Each year, there is a 5% increase in both gun violence and the number of gun purchases compared to the previous year.

Why is armament and violence increasing?

• When gangs started to form, everyone started to arm themselves.
• There is truly a problem in society, both in terms of fear and unrest.
• It’s not difficult to access guns. The internet is full of second-hand weapons.
• Unlicensed guns are even available on messaging apps.
• Accessibility is the determining factor in committing a crime. If it’s on your back, you use it.

The Solution:

•  Even if the state wants it, none of this will happen; no one can do anything.
• The solution to this problem is clear: the Turkish Grand National Assembly Internal Affairs Committee. He will revive the formerly obsolete gun bill. New regulations and amendments will be made, it will be brought to the General Assembly and passed into law, and then further action will be taken. What’s in this law? An advertising ban, a ban on online sales. There’s a decrease in gun purchases. There’s a waiting period. There’s a referral system. It’s eliminating the use of gifted weapons.

Now, let’s get to the comments on this short documentary. I’m sharing three of the most prominent comments and my thoughts on them below:

@avcienver

 I used to be against individual gun ownership, but with so many refugees and illegal immigrants flooding our country and the high risk of earthquakes, those with guns will survive in such situations. Unfortunately, but this is the truth.

My thoughts on this comment: This is an example of the panic in which this country is living. While against guns, they can consider arming refugees. It’s a shame. Also, I don’t see a connection between earthquakes and guns. I wonder if he’s talking about preventing looting?

@tayfunteksen

I’ve been kickboxing for six years. My weapons are my feet and hands.

 I was attacked by three people. One stabbed me in the leg and ran away. I beat the other two until they passed out. One of them is now being fed through a straw.

 My sports license was revoked for using lethal force.

My thoughts on this comment: I’m against all forms of violence, but it’s his natural right to defend himself against three attackers. However, the fact that he forced one of them to be fed through a straw shows that he missed the mark. Still, he has a much more manly approach than those insecure people who use guns. I wish everyone could practice a combat sport at a high level just for self-defense. Everyone would solve their own problems. Of course, I want to emphasize again. It’s not done solely for self-defense or to attack others. In other words, someone who practices combat sports professionally should never start a fight; on the contrary, they should be the ones who end it.

@fnfkly7343

There are two solutions to this: either the state will vigorously regulate the arms trade, or individual gun ownership should be permitted, which is the worst-case scenario. Türkiye isn’t like America, folks; Türkiye is a tense country. We probably can’t predict the consequences.

 My thoughts on this comment: Of course, the state will vigorously monitor the arms trade. Otherwise, I can’t imagine what will happen in the future. In fact, the state may even go beyond simply monitoring the arms trade. I 100% agree that Turkey is a tense country. We are very tense. A fight can break out anywhere, at any time.

The nonsense of “gear gymnastics.”

 I’ll never forget one day, while I was sitting with some friends in my ‘20s at a cafe near Istiklal Avenue, a random guy came up to me, whom one of the friends at the table knew. He just happened to be sitting at the same cafe. He saw the guy at our table and came over to say hello, chatted for five minutes, and then left. I don’t remember how the conversation got to that point, but he suddenly showed everyone else the gun he had on his hip and said something to himself, “Application gymnastics is the best,” and showed off. The equipment he was talking about was a metaphor for the weapon. It seemed absurd that he’d even brought gymnastics, the foundation of all sports, into this for the sake of a joke. Besides, no one laughed at his joke except himself. I didn’t like this short, unattractive, and insecure guy showing off his gun for no reason. I remember thinking to myself, “One day, someone who only does gymnastics will come along and give you a good beating, and you’ll see the apparatus.” So, the kickboxer friend I mentioned in the comments above, who said, “My weapons are my feet and hands,” is, in my opinion, a more manly and correct approach. People should be able to use their hands and feet for self-defense. However, using a gun for self-defense can escalate matters to a whole new level.

I agree with the recommendation, expressed in the interview with the Umut Foundation, to address the issue after the Turkish Grand National Assembly enacts a law. Whatever is done must be done within the framework of the law and order. However, I’ll keep my thoughts on what kind of law should be enacted to myself for now.

I simply recommend considering this proposed solution from this perspective: In our current environment, will simply lifting the advertising ban, online sales ban, waiting periods, referral systems, and gifting guns be sufficient?

Or, in an environment where violence is erupting, will the state need to make more radical decisions to address serious problems?

Tag: education