Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (Gun-politics is dangerous) that was published in Newsband

Gun-politics is dangerous

Wade Michael Page entered the Oak Creek Gurdwara in Wisconsin, and committed murders. A former soldier in the United States army, Page has been linked by a civil rights group to white supremacist politics. Was this act a random act of terror or targeted hate crime?

Sikhs are one of the oldest Asian communities in North America; the Sikhs faced prejudice and discrimination at the start of the 20th century before finally establishing themselves in different walks of life; in the wake of 9/11, they found themselves targeted by racists who saw in their turbans a resemblance to Osama bin Laden.

Why Page chose the Gurdwara for his rampage is not yet known. But this incident has proved one thing and that is extra security must be provided to Sikh, Muslim and Hindu places of worship across the U.S.

The real problem is America’s relationship with guns. It is easy in America to get access to guns. America should clamp down on the criminally-easy access its laws give to guns.  The killings at Oak Creek, the massacre at the Aurora movie theatre near Denver, the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the Columbine carnage proves the point that guns should not be made easily available.

Wisconsin last year actually passed a law making it easier for its residents to obtain firearms. Civilians in some parts of the U.S. can easily become the victim of a firearms-related murder. American government should see to it that the potential victims have guns to protect themselves.

America always had guns. In this vast country, sometimes guns are essential. Guns are not new in America, what is new is constant brain washing by media, particularly some radio stations. They provide fuel to criminal minds to divert their anger to "foreigners". Restriction of gun ownership will certainly solve this problem.

The American citizens themselves have to seriously ponder whether the guns are required by them for self- protection. If the guns continue to get used to kill innocent citizens, then the chances are that more citizens will become victims of hatred or plain madness.

America supports gun laws that allow Whites to keep guns and use them against Coloured people. It basically stems from tradition of European White settlers using guns to keep native Red Indians at bay. The tradition continues. If 100 years back guns were used against Red Indians today they are being used against recent non-white immigrants like Asians, Africans etc. Another solution to this major problem is Asians should take advantage of gun laws and arm themselves too to defend themselves.