Most people associate school and mass shootings with the United States, but recent events in Serbia have prompted questions about whether the violence is also present in other countries. As a sociologist who has researched the region for 30 years, I believe that Serbia is deeply divided and traumatized by its recent violent past. The country is led by an elite group that operates through informal networks and fosters insecurity, despite speaking incessantly about security. While the recent tragedies were not entirely surprising, they have prompted soul-searching in Serbia about the cultural and media environment that promotes violence and hatred.
Although Serbia has been compared to the United States in terms of gun ownership, the gulf between the two countries is considerable. The United States is the world leader in firearms possession, with 100 to 120 firearms for every 100 people. In contrast, Serbia ranks third, with only 9 to 39 firearms per 100 people. The presence of illegal and unregistered guns in Serbia further complicates the issue. However, unlike the United States, Serbia has restrictive firearms legislation, which is not enforced.
In response to the recent shootings, Serbia enforced existing laws quickly and effectively. President Aleksander Vučić promised swift action to protect public safety and reduce ownership of illegal firearms by 90 percent. Confiscation, combined with an amnesty program for the surrender of illegal weapons, led to the collection of 3000 guns in just a few days. Despite this swift response, activists in Serbia are demanding limitations on the promotion of violence and hatred in the media and calling for the government to address the root causes of violence.
Serbia has a complicated political and cultural history, marked by war crimes and ethno-nationalist sentiments that are still prevalent today. The media and political elites promote resentment and hatred, and the state has made no serious effort to come to terms with its complicity in war crimes. Serbia’s recent tragedies highlight the links between the authoritarian character of the state, the destructively ideological nature of the media, and the broad normalization of violence in the culture.
Serbia’s experience suggests that eliminating the danger of violence will require building institutions that are truthful and responsible, and a culture that is, at the very least, relatively nontoxic. While gun control measures are important, they are not enough to address the root causes of violence. The tragedy in Serbia reminds us that violence is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted solution.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
