The merciless killing of innocent people at a synagogue in America shows that hate crimes and the availability of guns continue to bedevil society not just in the United States but a number of other countries as well.

Gun-related incidents in America are all too familiar. They happen frequently, are quickly condemned by all, and then conveniently forgotten until a fresh attack.

Nobody dares to remove the Second Amendment to the Constitution that gives Americans the right to bear arms, and gun culture has become such a divisive political topic. Those demanding control of lethal weapons lobby for stronger regulation after each attack but no permanent solution seems in sight. 

The lone gunman who killed 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue was a 46-year-old white male with a well-documented hatred of Jews. He was arrested and faces 29 criminal charges. Yet, even if he receives the death penalty and it is carried out, that won't bring back a single one of his dead victims.

As with most other shootings in America, the event again brings to the fore the familiar debate concerning gun control. However, an even more pertinent question would be whether relaxed gun laws are really responsible for the glut of mass shootings on American soil?

The answer is simple. Some people kill others not just because they have guns, but because they are driven by hatred to use them. Modern automatic guns make the task easier and deadlier, and that is why every shooting raises questions about the current gun laws. 

Those trying to address this menace, of whom there are many, should work on two levels: First, there should be a proper check on those allowed to buy and keep guns. It is surely a matter of social responsibility that any gun sale should clearly identify the purchaser and the reason for the purchase. 

Strict background checks and yearly follow-ups can help to determine if a person living with a gun is also a responsible citizen. However, the real issue is what motivates a person to use a gun, and that brings us to the issue of hate crimes.  

Political, religious and community leaders must try to address divisions within societies, especially at the local level. The Pittsburgh synagogue killer was an anti-Semite who had been quite open in expressing his extremist views online, and it should have been known to those around him. 

If a system of public support is available and the community is alive to the problems posed by the distorted thinking of individuals, some heinous incidents might be averted. The State and society should join hands to closely monitor individuals who exhibit violent tendencies.

Therein lies the greater responsibility on the central political leadership. Unfortunately, the policies and statements of President Donald Trump have deepened the tensions lying deep in American society. His constant attacks on the media and a clear bias against immigrants and certain ethnic and religious groups have sharpened the perverted thinking of some unstable people. 

America has long been considered as the safest place for the Jews, but the incident shows that even their safety is now an issue. Such apprehensions were also expressed by many people after the attack. The fear is that a lone wolf might be lurking somewhere in the country ready to repeat the horror.

The synagogue killing also highlights the threats to the minorities. The world needs policies to secure the vulnerable groups, no matter where they live. There should be a consensus that even a little bit of intolerance towards religious minorities and other smaller groups would be timely curbed.

We have seen a surge in far right nationalism in many countries. There are problems in Europe and America as well as in developing world. It is like a contagion spreading in all directions and should be checked before it is too late. 

If intolerance is allowed to go, its flames will not spare anyone. Because at one level everyone is a minority. If you are a majority in your country, you become a minority the moment you land in another country and are susceptible to hatred and violence.  

Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

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