Open access peer-reviewed chapter - ONLINE FIRST

Gun Culture: A Hidden Evil in Indian Society and Its Implications

Written By

Yogesh Kumar

Submitted: 19 June 2023 Reviewed: 19 June 2023 Published: 07 September 2023

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.1002221

Gun Violence and Prevention - Connections, Cultures, and Consequences IntechOpen
Gun Violence and Prevention - Connections, Cultures, and Conseque... Edited by Jack Eller

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Gun Violence and Prevention - Connections, Cultures, and Consequences [Working Title]

Jack David Eller

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Abstract

India faces a serious issue of gun violence in many states. Despite having strict laws for firearms, there are many loopholes from where criminals and normal citizens acquire guns. Reasons can be many from portraying themselves as powerful to threatening someone or to protecting and even killing someone. Few surveys have revealed that the numbers of licensed firearms are very low as compared to unlicensed firearms. Government and police have taken severe measures to bring an end to the gun culture, but corruption and politics have given hope to the culprits. States like Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh are the worst affected regions. Art and culture such as the music industry have witnessed the glorification of guns through music videos and lyrics by many singers and artists. Thus, this chapter tries to bring out this situation, reasons and solutions for the prevailing evil form of gun culture in India.

Keywords

  • gun culture
  • gun violence
  • guns
  • firearms
  • India
  • Punjab
  • Uttar Pradesh
  • Madhya Pradesh
  • J&K
  • gun laws
  • NCRB
  • Indian gun laws
  • glorifying gun culture

1. Introduction

What is a gun culture? The term was coined by Richard Hofstadter in 1970, in an American Heritage article critiquing gun violence in the United States (Figure 1) [1]. Gun culture refers to the attitudes, feelings, values and behaviors of a society, religion and social group towards the usage of firearms for various reasons [2, 3]. Basically. It denotes the normalization of guns in a society or a social group, but unaware of the consequences it holds for everyone. India was ranked 5 in a survey of countries with the highest total gun deaths in 2019 with 14,710 casualties by gun violence [4].

Figure 1.

Richard Hofstadter (6 August 1916–1924 October 1970), American public intellectual of the 1950s, historian and DeWitt Clinton professor of American history at Columbia University. Photograph by Bernard Gotfryd, circa 1970 taken from Wikipedia.

Despite having strict gun laws under the Indian constitution, a huge number of unlicensed firearms exist in the country as compared to licensed firearms. With the increase in possession of guns the crime related to guns increased drastically and death toll got worse. In recent times, states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are known as the hub of gun culture. Other states like J&K, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh have been engaged in illegal supplying of guns and ammunition. Government to tackle the growing gun culture, has banned many illegal manufacturing factories of guns in these states recently [5]. Reports have shown the rapid spike in gun violence for reasons as petty as honor killing but whom to blame? the government or the police? or the political parties? Well, the web is woven so complex that it’s not easy to find real culprits. Who use the loopholes in the state administration for personal gains. The Halka system in Punjab is one such loophole.

The government and police have tried to bring down gun violence and destroy the roots of gun culture existing as a parasite in India. They have taken up various measures but nothing promising could be done. The black market of firearms has persisted under such restrictions. People are more fearless nowadays in keeping guns and displaying them publicly as if it is a symbol of dominance. Social media has played a massive role to foster the growth of gun culture. Teenagers posting pictures with guns and posting videos of shooting in air can be seen surfacing the internet. Such normalization has created a mindset amongst young children and youth that guns are cool, especially in villages of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Is it only a state issue or is it much more complex than it looks? Well, the case is not so simple that only internal factors are responsible for the growing gun culture in the country but in recent times links from foreign countries have been unfolded in terms of spreading instability in the country. Pakistan has been accused of building conspiracy and supplying firearms through illegal means in the regions of Punjab and Kashmir. The Kartarpur corridor inaugurated by PM Modi on 9 November 2009 has been used to create a network of illegal supply of firearms in Punjab and on December 2, an NRI was arrested at the Kartarpur corridor for carrying cartridges in a bag illegally [6]. Not only the bothering neighbors of India but links from foreign countries like Canada, UK and USA can be traced in contributing to the growing gun culture in India [7].

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2. Gun culture in different states

2.1 Punjab

“Punjabis crave guns” was the statement given by an IAS Officer ‘Chander Gaind’ who served in Patiala. This tells us the situation from the ground level and from the perspective of a civil servant who handled one of the key states of Punjab. Coming to the facts, the number of licensed arms in Punjab can be estimated by the fact that ahead of 2022 Punjab Assembly elections almost 4,00,000 weapons were deposited, said Chief Electoral Officer (Punjab) Dr. S. Karuna Raju [8]. There are various reasons for the situation in Punjab and the gun culture existing in the state. Let us briefly go through some of the key factors for the same.

2.1.1 Militancy in Punjab

According to the ministry of home affairs in Punjab, most of the active licenses were allotted in 1980s when militancy was at its peak in Punjab [9]. In 1985, Punjab elections, Akali Dal pulled a move and promised to release the prisoners who were arrested during 1980 militancy in which a lot of innocent civilians were present, and along were some extremists too who later got freed along with prisoners due to which the crime rates increased and anti-national activities saw a spike in those years [10]. Moreover, the number of unlicensed guns started to increase in Punjab. Amongst the prisoners were some terrorists too who later created instability in the state. As the reports suggest, year 1990–1991 more than 5000 civilians were killed and many police personnel lost their lives too. A prominent Akali Dal leader, Balwant Singh, was killed by extremist groups and flow of guns and weapons gained moments in these years [11].

2.1.2 Halqa system

A system of police administration in which the MLA elected or non-elected gets the power to appoint SHO (station house officer) of their constituencies. SHO plays a very significant role in issuing gun licenses as they give the final clearance certificate to the SDM for issuing a license to a citizen [12]. Lately, the district police administration was all under an SSP (senior superintendent of police) who with the help of subordinate officers and constables used to run the administration of police but when SAD & BJP won the elections and came to power, they introduced Halqa system which later got misused a lot because the party leader in order to win the support of their cadre got their gun license cleared easily due to their own SHO being installed at the station who to maintain his position had no choice but to give the clearance in order to keep the party leader support. Corruption never took a step back in any political system thus Punjab has been a victim of very dirty politics.

2.1.3 Pop culture

A very crucial factor that has contributed to the gun culture is the pop culture of Punjab. Many singers and writers started glorifying guns in their songs. Music videos of Punjabi songs flooded with open displays of guns as they were showcased so something very common and normal. This normalization of guns brought a new mindset amongst the youth of Punjab. Punjabi youth adopted this as their real lifestyle and social media became a tool for showcasing guns boldly through pictures and videos as if it was so cool or macho. Prominent Punjabi singers like Babu Mann, Jazz B, Mankrit Aulakh, Karan Aujla, Sidhu Mossewala and many more started to glorify guns in their songs and because of having a crazy fan following the youth was influenced heavily by their songs and they started mimicking them by posting pictures and videos using guns. Many of them face serious charges for openly displaying guns but get out of the charges due to political connections. Recently, Sidhu Moosewala was murdered in a broad daylight by a rival gang which raised many questions on the administration to have strict laws on firearms. He was also charged earlier for publically displaying gun but went underground to avoid the arrest [13]. There are many such instances that pop culture has been used to glorify guns and weapons which have become a serious issue now.

2.1.4 Symbol of status

Guns in Punjab have become a symbol of status and prestige. Research by Rajesh Gill who is a professor of sociology tells that cast plays an important role in Punjab’s gun culture [13]. Popularized by upper caste Jatt Sikhs, guns are associated with money and power. The scenario has got worse over time and many Punjabis now see guns as masculinity and want to hold a gun to display their pride and manly hood. Such a mindset has taken over the youth so much that villages of Punjab are witnessing illegal activities and gun violence on a rapid scale which shows that a psychological change of radical mindset is taking over the youth.

2.2 Uttar Pradesh (UP)

Uttar Pradesh is the largest supplier of guns whether replica or original according to a report published by NCRB (national crime records bureau) about arms seized by police in 2020, in which UDP alone accounted for 50% of unlicensed arms amongst all the states of India with a staggering number of 32,776 UP is the sole hub for gun culture. (Table 1) Its districts such as Mirzapur, Munger, Purvanchal, Ghaziabad etc., have been on the news for their nonstop illegal supplies of arms and ammunition and the growing gun culture in the region.

Seizures under Arms Act - 2020
Sl.State/UTFrom Anti-National ElementsaFrom OthersbTotal
LicensedUnlicensedLicensedUnlicensedArmsAmmunition
ArmsAmmunitionArmsAmmunitionArmsAmmunitionArmsAmmunition
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
STATES:
1Andhra Pradesh00622112507257106
2Arunachal Pradesh00322740024034314
3Assam15000111133934403653451
4Bihar0010882740363011,290374212,117
5Chhattisgarh00102249004790581249
6Goa00000015171517
7Gujarat00004069610554650623
8Haryana0000102427257724282577
9Himachal Pradesh200016011162916
10Jharkhand001179061058719087052814
11Karnataka1101222637121178170217
12Kerala002075127147136152
13Madhya Pradesh002784269310,841273311,3882740
14Maharashtra0000002646133626461336
15Manipur4054467612040206994902
16Meghalaya1000302333127331
17Mizoram10000091101
18Nagaland0079311646381481213270
19Odisha000020197207
20Punjab00382434383964128816658
21Rajasthan00006135447345054533463
22Sikkim0010012031
23Tamil Nadu00001213352403364416
24Telangana201014132573588171
25Tripura0051000631113
26Uttar Pradesh373739041738563140032,776976337,61612,908
27Uttarakhand000023451812167835618
28West Bengal00001551851371518523770
TOTAL STATE(S)4097474812,208997212464,17248,91970,32663,258
UNION TERRITORIES:
29A&N Islands0000000000
30Chandigarh0000003517835178
31D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu0000000000
32Delhi0000223734472437364726
33Jammu & Kashmir0047427,0834062048427,103
34Ladakh0000000000
35Lakshadweep0000000000
36Puducherry0000000000
TOTAL UT(S)0047427,0836237754922425532,007
TOTAL ALL INDIA4097522239,2911003212067,94753,84174,58195,265

Table 1.

NCRB report 2020 for Indian public usage for research works.

Terrorists/Extremists/Insurgents etc.


Criminals/Smugglers etc.


• As per data provided by States/UTs.

Note: Others may Include Criminals, Gangsters & Smugglers etc.

• States/UTs may not be compared purely on the basis of crime figures.

2.2.1 Hub of replicas

Munger District of UP is famous for its black market of weapons and more than it is famous for making replicas of guns which come with a tag name - ‘made in Munger’ which works just like the original ones [14]. People there are just fond of guns and see them as a symbol of pride to keep it with them but the scenario during the 90s era was not quite the same.

2.2.2 Kattas to AK-47

During the 90s the district of UP was ruled by mafias of different groups. Criminal activities were at their peak, and from being ruthless with blades and knives, the criminals went on to acquire guns. At first, the Desi Kattas were used heavily as they left no traceable clue for police to find the culprits but the era changed and hand revolvers flooded the markets of UP and criminals went on to upgrade their artilleries with assault rifles like AK47, made in Russia. Guns became a part of UP and it came to be recognized as the biggest hub of gun culture and gun violence. Imported weapons just became a new craze for gangs and mafias of UP who, despite being in jail, carried out various criminal activities without fear. The districts of Uttar Pradesh developed their own market of desi guns (made locally) and imported guns [15].

2.2.3 Organized crime

Purvanchal district of UP is well known for its organized criminal activities. The mafias in jail run their racket under the nose of the administration and police. It starts from small loot or burglary and people keep joining different groups to raise their influence. The group leaders assign tasks to the members and accordingly, it is carried out carefully, most of the time for money but also for revenge from different rival groups [16].

2.3 Madhya Pradesh (MP)

It is the largest state of India and has been through a furious journey of criminal activities, revolts, rebellious groups, targeted killings, caste-based killings and many such activities which raised a lot of questions about the government itself. According to NCRB report MP accounts for the second largest state with unlicensed firearms. NP accounts for the second largest state with unlicensed firearms. Many articles have been published that brought out the gun violence of MP. An Interview with the victim’s family showed how the gun culture affected the lives of their family members [17]. Madhya Pradesh has seen a lot of encounters due to this gun culture.

2.3.1 The history of Chambal

Gun culture first flourished here only when the band lands of Chambal were ruled by ‘Dacoits’. Dacoits are armed gangs of robbers who spent their lives in criminal activities and revolting against the state police. The region was full of dacoits and people and police used to fear taking action without proper backup. Moving forward to April 14, 1972, more than 600 dacoits surrendered AT Gandhi Ashram of Chambal district. The movement was led by Mohar Singh & Madho Singh (two notorious dacoits of their time) but surprisingly it wasn’t due to the police or the govt. But efforts of social activists Jayaprakash Narayan and Vinobha Bhave to make the dacoits leave their vice way of life [18, 19]. So, guns became a part and in past few decades that now people see them as a normal thing in the region.

2.3.2 Rajputs of MP

Guns in MP and especially amongst the upper caste section like Rajputs find their pride in keeping guns to protect their families. An interview carried out by ‘Brut India journalist’ [17] in the district of Morena with the local groups of Rajputs, shows the attitude of locals towards gun culture in their region which astonishingly is not for the sake of protection but a matter of pride for them and for their generation, The caste-based factors speak a lot about gun culture in these small regions of M.P. The lower strata of caste are not allowed to have guns which are normed by the upper caste section. Thus, it increases the vulnerability of the lower section to acquire guns by any means to symbolize their status as equal to other sections of society.

2.3.3 Baaghis of MP

Not everyone picks up a gun for banditry but there were groups of rebels who were called Baaghi who fought against the administration in as revolt against taxation on poor people [19]. According to the Brut India interview on YouTube, Asha Sikarwar, who lost his grandfather who was a baaghi got shot down and her father too was killed in an encounter by police, now fights against the gun culture in Chambal and expresses deep concern for other families who normalize keeping a gun [17].

2.4 Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)

“There is only solution, Gun Solution Gun Solution” - A slogan quoted from a group of protesters in Kashmir [20]. Leaving the political scenario aside of the state being under constant instability. The state of J&K has been on a boil since independence. Guns are over following in the state and almost every house is equipped with guns [21].

2.4.1 Terrorism

J&K has witnessed terrorist activities more than any state of India. Several terror groups are heavily equipped with modern-era weapons & firearms. Indian forces are trying hard to fight against these groups. Apart from these terrorists, there are locals who possess arms and use these against the security forces in the name of freedom. Infiltration and cross-border illegal activities have given parallel access to gun violence in J&K [22].

2.4.2 Gun factories

Kashmir famous for its beauty, is well known for gun factories too. During lockdown in India, these factories and shops witness a rapid fall in gun sales. According to an interview, Zoroo Gun factory house in of the last surviving groups of gunsmiths in Kashmir valley [23]. Their production, which used to be 500+ in 1 year, came down to 20–50 guns only. People now use to visit them for gun repair. Once the valley used to be crowded with gun shops and factories, but the Indian government had cracked down the gun culture through long-standing battles against anti-national forces [24].

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3. Causes for gun culture

After going through the brief analysis of states in India the causes for the spreading of gun culture goes on from being physiological to necessity. For example, in Punjab initially, it was caused because of militancy which brought guns to the main stage and after that, the pop culture promoting guns became the new norm to acquire guns just to look cool. In U.P. people found it to be more related to mafia & criminal activities and in M.P. it was due to dacoits & baaghis. J&K faced terrorism & political tension which made it the most affected state with gun violence.

  • Unemployment is one such factor that cannot be neglected. The youth radicalized are influenced by others and tend to move towards criminal activities. Proper development would lead to job opportunities and people would feel worthy to leave crime and go for a better life.

3.1 Foreign conspiracy

This section needs to be addressed separately because these are cross-border activities trying to destabilize the peace in India by any means. If we talk about gun culture only then Punjab feels the worst pressure because Pakistan as a neighboring country has been sending weapons through illegal means to support the anti-national elements in the state. The Khalistan movement to declare Punjab as an Independent state for Sikhs has its network spread over several countries like Canada, England, Australia, & USA. Weapons and money are being smuggled to India from these countries. J&K faces terrorism fueled by Pakistan and other anti-national elements outside the country. Infiltration of terrorists & radicals is what killing the state from the inside. Thus, the foreign conspiracy has come up as an alarming issue for promoting gun culture in India.

3.2 Social media

The content being consumed from social media platforms is one of the prominent causes of spreading gun culture. From pop songs to radical speeches are brainwashing people to pick arms for different causes. Posting pictures or videos on social media platforms. That is, Instagram and Facebook youth as a symbol of pride and to look cool has been an itch for the government. Misuse of such platforms has led to extremism amongst the people [25].

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4. Efforts by the government to stop gun culture

India has one of the strictest gun laws in the world but still, the nation is under a serious threat of growing gun culture. The govt. and administration have been involved in constant efforts to finish this gun culture. Talking about a recent step in Punjab by the current government of Bhagwant Mann, they have imposed a ban on songs promoting gun culture [26]. Also, 800 licenses were canceled in Punjab [27]. Many search operations were carried out to track down unlicensed arms. Printing QR codes on bullets was such an initiative to track the owners by the administration of Morena in M.P [17]. Ban on public displays of guns in Punjab [26]. Gun laws were amended under the arms act of 1959 [28]. Engaging with foreign diplomats to crack down on the illegal supply of guns. Policies were introduced regarding gun laws and a ban on certain weapons. As a whole, many efforts have been laid down by the government but still, we need robust implications to get the desired results.

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5. Comparison at a glance

According to the data of NCRB (Table 1) the state which has been the hub of gun culture seems to be Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Punjab seems to be the lowest among the state compared and even if we take different districts of Uttar Pradesh then the single region of UP accounts for way higher arms-related crimes than the state of Punjab (Figure 2) [29]. UP, Bihar & MP have been the sole centre of Gun Culture. Most of the unlicensed guns were seized from UP only (Table 1). Though gun culture whether micro or large is still not healthy for any state of India. The reports published by NCRB give us an idea that this gun violence flamed by Gun culture is a national issue which needs to be dealt with more vigor measures and actions (Figure 3).

Figure 2.

Taken from the print article which is sourced from an open national crime record data for public and non-commercial use. (modified as per ref. [29]).

Figure 3.

1878 – British East India company soldiers - photo by Hulton archive on Getty images gallery of vintage images of British India in the ninteeth century - (modified as per ref. [30]).

For further addition, the comparison must be made by taking the different factors responsible for gun culture in the states. The factor that Punjab is considered a hot tub for growing gun culture and has been singled out due to its pop culture glorifying guns then the same pop culture of different states, such as Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, is also doing the same where you can find many Haryanvi songs glorifying violence and gun culture with million streams on YouTube [29].

Moreover, the terrorism factor is also affecting the states of Punjab, MP and UP which prevail in J&K. Foreign conspiracy and usage of loopholes in the Indian system is seen in other states too such as Maharashtra and southern states like Karnataka & Tamil Nadu. The coastal routes are used to smuggle and supply illegal guns and weapons to different regions of the Indian states.

Undoubtedly, each state has its own factor which is connected to different states effecting pointing in the same direction of growing gun culture in India.

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6. Gun laws in India

The first arms act in India was brought in 1878 by the Britishers after the revolt for independence in 1857 by Indian soldiers who were sepoys in an infantry division of the British East India Company [30, 31]. The laws introduced in 1878 regulated the conditions and procedures that who can acquire, deal & assemble guns.

Kodava community (Figure 4) - a special mention of this race must be made which got an exception to keep guns as a part of their long-running culture but under strict conditions of not to publicly use them outside their community. This community belongs to Karnataka and in 2019, the high court issued an order extending the gun rights of the community till 31 Oct, 2029 [32]. They can carry rifles in their district and community and outside they must comply with state laws.

Figure 4.

Kodava community (photograph courtesy: Codava National Council – Modified according to ref. [32]).

In 2019 the Arms Act of 1959 was amended and more strict measures were added to it. Along with the Arms Rules of 1962, these two laws regulate firearms in the country. They prohibit the arrangement, manufacture, proprietorship, acquisition, import, fare, and transport of firearms and ammo except if under a grant and is a stringent methodology [28].

Requirements for acquiring gun license [33].

  1. The minimum age requirement for acquiring a gun license in India is 21 years.

  2. The applicant must not have been convicted of any offense involving violence or moral turpitude 5 years prior to commencing the application, not of an ‘unsound mind’ and not a threat to public safety and peace.

  3. Property qualification is not a criterion for acquiring gun license.

  4. Upon receiving an application, the licensing authority (i.e., the Home Ministry), asks the officer in charge of the nearest police station to submit a report about the applicant after thorough vetting within a prescribed time.

Other Features of the Act:

  1. It defines ‘prohibited arms’ as those that either discharge any noxious liquid or gas, or weapons that seek pressure to be applied on a trigger for discharge.

  2. It allows the use of smooth bore gun with a barrel of not less than 20 inches for crop protection or sport.

  3. No entity is permitted to sell or transfer any firearm which does not bear the name of the maker, manufacturer’s number or any other visible or stamped identification mark.

Amendment to the Arms Act:

  1. The Arms Act amended in 2019 reduces the number of firearms that an individual can procure from 3 to 2.

  2. The validity of the license has been increased from the present 3 to 5 years.

  3. It also enlists specific provisions on curtailing the use of licensed weapons to ensure social harmony.

  4. Punishment: The punishment of imprisonment is increased between 7 and 14 years, along with a fine for the offense of acquisition, possession or carrying of prohibited ammunition without a license.

  5. It prohibits the conversion of one category of firearms to another without a license.

  6. Unlawful manufacture, sale and transfer are liable for an imprisonment term of not less than 7 years which could be extended to life, with a fine.

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7. Suggestions and solutions

In 2016, a dancer at a marriage ceremony was shot dead in celebratory firing by a drunk man [34]. This is just one such case near Bhatinda but many more such cases can be seen due to such negligence and casual behavior. This must be addressed with caution and seriousness otherwise this normalization of guns can be devastating for the nation.

  • A revisit to firearms is a must by the legislatures and some new policies which regulate firearms with more surveillance are needed.

  • The Halqa system in Punjab must be changed and SHOs should be free from the dominance of MLAs on getting clearance certificates to acquire guns.

  • Review the license given in the last 10 years.

  • Strict checks on imported weapons and illegal supply of weapons in the country from any source.

  • Public displays of guns should be banned in all states and open fire at public ceremonies like marriages should be banned for better good.

  • Public awareness regarding guns and gun laws should be noticeable.

  • As a duty, even citizens should come forward to join hands to fight this gun culture.

  • Police should be given more authority to capture and seize firearms without the political intervention of parties and leaders for their own gain.

  • Radical elements must be tackled with immediate effect.

  • Social media should be used by the government to spread more awareness about gun culture and its consequences.

  • More employment opportunities can crack down the situation amongst the frustrated youth who see criminal activities as an easy way.

  • Innovative measures such as Chander Gaind started by making it compulsory for the citizens who get gun licenses to plant trees [35].

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8. Conclusion

Gun culture in India is a recent phenomenon that has its roots connected to the past when almost every state used to face insurgency for various reasons. Mafias and gang wars were common in states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, etc. and guns were new weapons that eliminated the enemy in one go. Whether it is seen as a symbol of pride or seen as a tool to spread dominance, the fact that people have developed the mindset of conceiving power with the possession of guns. That hunger for power is brutal for others. Amidst all this, the real advantage of such power struggles is used by political leaders and parties for personal gains. Politics is never ending in the nation and how many times in such cases, that is, in illegal gun activities, political leaders were involved.

The states which we discussed were a brief analytical representation of the situation in the nation. Punjab state was recently in news due to the murder case of famous singer Sidhu Moosewala whose responsibility was claimed by a rival gang leader Goldy Brar who currently resides in Canada and connections were found with Lawrence Bisnoi who is in Jail in India. They both are of the same gang and wanted to take revenge for the murder of one of their gang members Middu Kheda in which Sidhu Moosewala was involved too as claimed by the news portal and the opposite gang members [36]. This whole scenario pulled out gun culture and brought it to the mainstream. Now whole nation is concerned about the gun culture and gun violence persisting in the country.

Though the facts and numbers of NCRB and police records bring different realities on the ground as their records show the worst affected state and the hub of gun culture is Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. These two states have the highest death numbers through guns. A single district of Uttar Pradesh surpasses many big states when brought to light the gun-induced killings in the region [37]. Punjab stands 3 times below the national average for gun violence (Figure 5). Thus, it means Punjab is not influenced by gun culture. No, this is not the case. Punjabi youth are psychologically so influenced by songs and temporary sense of power through songs. Guns are flowing in regions of Punjab which are induced by Khalistani forces and supported by Pakistan ISI. Gun culture is being run from foreign countries by anti-national forces.

Figure 5.

State-wise comparison of arms related crimes - taken from the print article which is sourced from an open national crime record data for public and non-commercial use.

The causes are many but government needs to step up with more strict measures and action plans. They must be aware of all the nuances which are sole cause for such growing culture of guns but the alone government cannot do much. Civil society and citizens need to feel their duty to stand up against such culture which is venom for the society. ‘Prof. Panditrao Dharenavar from Karnataka, who is serving as Assistant Professor of Sociology at Post Graduate Government College in Chandigarh, has been teaching Punjabi to South Indian doctors and nurses working at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), besides slum children, for the last 11 years. When he is not doing that, he is fighting against the glorification of gun culture, drugs, liquor and violence in Punjabi songs’ (Figure 6) [38, 39]. He stands holding placards with a message not to promote gun violence, alcohol & drugs in Punjab through Punjabi songs and, he stands outside marriages holding placards saying – do not dance on Punjabi songs promoting drugs and weapons [40]. Plus, he has written letters to the SSP of Punjab states to stop the singers from singing who promote gun culture through their songs (Figure 7) [40]. Such initiatives and awareness should be within every citizen or at least inside the future generation of the nation, the youth.

Figure 6.

Panditrao Dharenavar holds a protest in Patiala on Saturday. Picture taken from ‘the tribune newspaper’ article written by Rajesh Sacher [39].

Figure 7.

Letter to SSP of Punjab SAS Nagar by Panditrao Dharenavar. Picture from Aditi Chattopadhyay’s article in the logical Indian journalism [40].

People have lost so many lives through guns. From mishandling to revenge, a single shot fired comes back with a heavy price for someone’s life. At a shop in Punjab, a police officer accidentally fires a shot that hits a customer in that shop who dies on the spot only [41]. Marriages have seen so many such casualties in the name of celebratory firing through rifles or guns. Youth in colleges have illegally acquired guns to spread their dominance who without knowing the consequences roam around casually in groups to make themselves feel cool or powerful which ends up with gang rivalry and then gun violence.

The point to be noted is that most of the cases or almost every case are related to men only. When talking on the basis of gender then the pistols which were made for the safety of women’s after so many brutal rape cases in Delhi and UP, never got accessible to women due to strict firearm laws but on the opposite side men tend to acquire guns illegally from various sources.

At last, the scenario brought out through this comparative case study is a national issue and must be dealt with keeping in mind national security and national threat from both inside and outside. To mention, when compared on a world scale then India ranks low in the table of gun violence and gun culture in different countries where the top rank is undoubtedly of the USA with a massive percentage difference from any other country for gun-induced homicides [42]. Though India needs to dig deeper into this issue and shall bring an immediate end to this evil named ‘Gun Culture’ which is growing its roots in India.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank all the authors whose work made this chapter possible and who gave better insight into the topic. Plus, I would like to thank my friends and family who supported me.

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Conflict of interest

“The author declares no conflict of interest.”

References

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Written By

Yogesh Kumar

Submitted: 19 June 2023 Reviewed: 19 June 2023 Published: 07 September 2023