Abstract

The U.S. is a nation that advocates freedom, and it is the only country where legal gun use is permitted. As a result every year there are numerous shootings occurring in the United States. This paper analyzes the historical origins of gun culture, the causes of the formation of gun culture, and the current situation of gun culture. Analyzing the reasons for the formation of American gun culture in details helps improve further research and awareness of American gun culture.

Key words:  gun culture, violence, gun control, the Second Amendment, bipartisan politics
 
摘要

美国是一个崇尚自由的国家，也是唯一一个法律允许使用枪支的国家，因而每年美国都会发生无数起枪杀案。本文从枪支文化的历史渊源，形成枪支文化的原因，枪支文化的现状三个方面展开探讨。具体分析美国枪支文化形成的原因，有助于深化对美国枪支文化的研究与认识。

关键词：枪支文化；暴力；禁枪；第二条修正案；两党制
 
1. Introduction
On April 16, 2007, the Virginia Tech campus shootings let people see tragedy repeating again. Korean student Seung-Hui Cho of the college wearing bulletproof vests and carrying two pistols killed 32 teachers and students (Mu, 2). The case shocked the United States, and became a world wide media event. There are indications showing that gun control in the United States is not a simple social problem, because people under other culture backgrounds simply call for the banning of guns. The social problem has its inherent cultural traditions, various concepts of values, statutory powers, partisan struggles and interest groups, interwoven amongst other extremely complicated factors.
2. Demonstration
2.1 Historical analysis of early period in America
In 1791, the U.S. Congress and the states ratified the “Bill of Rights” the first ten amendments to the Constitution; the Second Amendment clearly stated that “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed” (Li Daokui, 788). Thus, at that time, the right of Americans to bear arms was respected. What are the reasons for the American people to attach so much importance to the weapons? Why did guns play a major role in people’s social life? Rome was not built in one day. We have to find the answers from history.