Growing concern over guns
It is a sad but unfortunately very true fact that guns are becoming a part of daily life in Greece that can be found in even the most unlikely places. The unfortunate incident yesterday of the young man who shot three people before turning a gun on himself at a vocational training school for the Manpower Organization (OAED) was sad proof of this growing problem and also highlights another aspect of the issue, which is how easy it has become for anyone to acquire a firearm. Everyone – both society and politicians – needs to voice their concern about the infiltration into households of guns, a problem that has never been seen before in Greece to this extent except in times of war. One of the first steps that needs to be taken is for the police and other authorities to trace the source of illegal weapons and put a stop to their trade and trafficking. Parents also need to educate their children about the dangers of firearms. When placed in the hands of children, teenagers or the mentally disturbed, or even someone who is simply desperate, guns become a whole new threat, a threat that needs to be addressed by each and every one of us, as individuals and as a society.
