Poonam Sharma
The recent shooting near the White House — in which two members of the United States National Guard were critically wounded in what authorities have described as an ambush — marks yet another tragic chapter in the United States’ long, troubled history with firearms.
The suspect, said to be a 29-year-old Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been taken into custody, having been shot himself.
The incident has shaken public confidence, sparked calls for even greater security – including deployment of 500 more Guard troops – and set off the inevitable political furor: demands for tighter immigrant screening and harder policing.
1. Gun Culture as a Root Problem, Not Just a Security Issue
The United States has long been plagued by high rates of gun violence. Relatively lax gun laws, broad social acceptance of firearms, political resistance to gun-control measures, and a cultural narrative that equates guns with freedom, self-defence, and power-all combine to create an environment in which tragic incidents like the White House shooting are not anomalies but recurring possibilities.
A culture that normalizes guns as an ordinary, even celebrated part of everyday life, normalizes risk: guns are often kept in households, carried in public, and used to resolve conflicts or express rage. Where this happens, the prevalence of guns lowers the threshold on lethal violence. Once firearms are ubiquitous, even a moment of personal crisis, fear, paranoia or hatred can lead to irreversible tragedy.
2. The Failure of Reactive Security Measures
Prompted by the shooting, the immediate reaction from authorities has been overwhelmingly reactive: lockdowns, increased troop deployment, intensified surveillance, stricter policing.
But history underlines that reactive measures, such as a build-up of security forces or deployment of more troops, can only reduce risks in high-profile areas and cannot eradicate the root cause.
Every time a high-profile attack occurs, we see increased security around government buildings, airports, schools, but the next mass shooting or random act of violence just shifts to another venue. The cycle repeats itself. Meanwhile, millions of firearms remain in private hands available to people troubled by mental illness, political anger, xenophobia, or personal grievances.
3. Wider Social and Mental Health Context
Gun violence in the U.S. often intersects with deeper social dysfunction: inequality, mental health crises, social alienation, identity conflicts, and political polarization. In this case, the shooter was said to be an immigrant, and the attack is being framed by political leaders as justification for tighter immigration and refugee controls.
This kind of reaction invites scapegoating and communalising a deeply individual act of violence. It overshadows the more urgent, systemic task of recognising that vulnerability, despair, alienation – which may be experienced by immigrants, veterans, or native-born citizens alike – is fertile ground for violent outcomes in a society saturated with guns.
4. Need for Real Gun Reform and Cultural Change
Unless the U.S. does a lot more than reactive security and rhetoric, the country will see tragedies such as the shooting at the White House become routine. Serious reform is needed in gun laws and, even more importantly, in the way society views firearms.
a) Stricter Gun Control Laws
b) Public Awareness & Cultural Shift
c) Mental-Health Infrastructure & Social Support
d) Transparent Accountability & Enforcement
5. Why Gun-Culture Reform Matters Globally
While this attack happened in Washington, its ripples are global. The United States is a global superpower, often exporting influence and values. The normalization of gun violence, the militarization of police or security, reliance on force over mediation, and the portrayal of guns as defenders of “freedom” or identity-these shape global narratives.
If the U.S. fails to confront its own gun-violence crisis, it will continue to send a dangerous message.
Conclusion:
Unless America seeks this deeper transformation — unless it treats guns not as right, but as serious instruments needing respect, regulation and responsibility — the cycle of violence will continue. The grim warning comes from the shooting in Washington D.C. Will the world continue to watch the security get tighter, or will America, and the global societies mirroring it, also build strength in restraint, social cohesion, and humanistic values over weapons?
