Buy one Kalashnikov, get a second one at half-price

I gained the impression from watching television that if France’s Front National’s Madame Marion Le Penn put herself up for one of the parties in the USA, she would win by a landslide. The media, as I mentioned in previous articles, seems extremely right wing.

While we were in the USA, the campus shootings in Oregon rightly took the headlines. Then the US President flew out to inspect the scene and commiserate. It was called a blatantly political act, which in itself illustrates how biased the media is in the USA. When George Bush did not travel to the flood-ravaged city of New Orleans a few years back, he was panned by the press. Had he flown down there, I suspect he would have been praised by the right-wing press.

Of course, every time there is one of the school-based or shopping-mall atrocities, there is a call for overdue gun control and those who suggest such a thing are vilified.

The big question mark over the Oregon killer was that he had mental problems. This factor was seized upon as being crucial by the Right to Bear Arms school of thought. If you don’t sell arms to people with mental problems, there is no problem, they argued.

Of course there is a very real problem in the USA, not helped when the current leader in the race to become the next President, Donald Trump, suggested that if the Paris victims had been carrying arms to the rock concert, the terrorists would not have killed so many. To think, he might become leader to the free world.

“You off to see Justin Bieber, poppet? My, my, your first concert. Have you got your ticket? Good. You do look pretty and so grown up. Well enjoy it and don’t be too late home. Remember you have your mock exams tomorrow. Oh yes, have you got your Beretta in your handbag? That’s a good girl.” Flittingly I heard the discussions on television as to whether gun control would work and how no one would vote for it and, instead, there should be a tightening up of the number of the rules to prevent mentally-ill people obtaining a gun.

The whole point of the experience and the atrocity seemed lost on them as far as I was concerned. OK; yes, don’t let mentally ill people own guns. Ok, so your right to bear arms is written in the constitution. I get those points.

What I do not understand is that this mentally troubled young man in Oregon had bought and owned SEVEN guns.

Does not that seem a tad over the top? The right to have a gun is one thing but when someone buys seven, including those capable of killing scores of people by keeping the finger on the trigger, don’t the alarm bells start ringing? Anyone wishing to buy more than two or three guns should be investigated as having potential problems. It is over the top; way over the top. Gun control can start with licensing and only permitting one gun to one person.

The idea that a young man can purchase a number of Kalashnikovs over a period of time is basically unsound to the point of being downright, criminally irresponsible. For all I know he bought two on the same day. Perhaps they had a special offer down the gun shop that week: buy one get a second at half price.

It is a country steeped in guns and the gun-bearing tradition. The hunting season is another off-shoot when scores of men, with the latest in designer hunting rifles so that you really cannot miss, go off to the wilds and shoot whatever they can see: bears, foxes, lynx, deer etc.

It is a way of life, and to my mind, is one of the least charming of US traits.

As it happened, the dinner party went off without incident, because I did not make any controversial remarks. Talking about health insurance, the republican host typically had no idea what goes on in other countries, and seemed surprised that France was renowned for having the best health system in the world. He finally accepted that, for the concept of health care for the unemployed or poor, is anathema to a republican.

“That’s why France is bankrupt,” he said dismissively and I made a mental reminder to inform Francois Hollande, the French President, that I had received a bit of a scoop from a republican in New York State. He probably does not know his country is bankrupt but a bloke in New York State does.

I did not make waves. We were guests of our friend’s friends but I was interested when a man who works for a credit card company, talked about the percentage they take from the traders for each transaction. A new court ruling in the US will allow merchants to pass on that extra four per cent fee to the shopper who wishes to use a credit card. That comes into practice late January.

All of which seems fair enough but it was pointed out that in the meantime, rather than pay the four per cent extra, you could suggest a two or three per cent reduction on the initial bill if you pay cash. That way you will obtain the purchase at cheaper rate and the merchant will get one or two per cent more than if you used a credit card.

The speaker explained there were some local shops in New York State, that are open to negotiation and will give you two or three per cent off for cash.

“The gun shop in town does just that,” he explained, and his revelation was treated in much the same way as if he had mentioned the local off license or supermarket gave discount for cash.

“Well that’s useful to know,” said one of the guests, clearly intent on boosting his arsenal, nodding his head.

The gun-shop gives discount for cash. That is worth keeping in mind.

It was so effortlessly delivered and accepted around the dinner table, that it only brought home the fact guns are ingrained in the everyday psyche of America.

As I said to Ellie, the fact the gun-shop gives cash discounts is worth remembering, the next time they have a Black Friday sale.