Beijing: A state-run Chinese daily Tuesday criticised America for the deadly shooting at a gurdwara, saying that despite having the most advanced defence ability, "the US government cannot prevent its citizens from falling victim to domestic gun crime".
An article in the Op-Ed section of the Global times stressed that repeated incidents also offer lessons to developing countries, which tend to model their social governance on developed states.
Two weeks after a shooting rampage in Aurora, Colorado, left a dozen people dead, six people were gunned down in a Sikh gurdwara in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Sunday morning, said the daily. The gunman was also killed.
"The motive for the shooting is still under investigation, while religious hatred and loose gun control were among the possible reasons cited by analysts," it said.
The daily criticised Washington for failing to effectively address the holes in the gun law.
"After the latest carnage, the American public has started speculating about when the next tragedy will happen. To politicians, gun ownership is an explosive issue," it said.
"Despite having the most advanced defense ability, the US government cannot prevent its citizens from falling victim to domestic gun crime. Freedom is an important element of US soft power, but the freedom to own a gun probably has the opposite effect," it added.
Pointing out that the US is among the world's top countries in terms of casualties of gun-related incidents, the daily said that as the debate over gun and firearms ownership continues and politicians dodge the issue, "more innocent lives have been claimed".
"The shooting also highlighted domestic hatred, another nagging issue in US politics. The shooter, launching his attack at a congregation in a Sikh temple, was thought to be venting his anger toward Muslims or immigrants," it noted.
The daily went on say that though religious and racial inclusiveness have long been lofty goals of the US, "in reality, discrimination among different religions, races and social classes has never been resolved, constantly fuelling serious social incidents".
"The repeated incidents also offer lessons to developing countries, which tend to model their social governance on developed states."
IANS
First Published: Tuesday, August 07, 2012, 13:54