The Gun Range

 

Learning how to shoot accurately is one of the skills that are considered essential for any gun owner. This is the reason why gun ranges, both indoor and outdoor, have been developed over the years. However, all gun ranges require that individuals who make use of them know and understand the safety rules and procedures. This is the reason why in recent years, a considerable number of gun ranges have developed short videos that show their members what they need to know before they begin making use of the ranges. When an individual goes to the gun range, one of the most essential acts is to sign a waiver that states that he or she understands and will abide by all the safety policies that have been developed by the range. Furthermore, signing the waiver ensures that the gun range is waived from any liabilities in case of a situation where a user ends up hurting either themselves or someone else, because such a situation is normal and is often expected from time to time. The gun range is a place where individuals learn more about being responsible gun handlers and helps ensure that safety is always made a priority.

It is important that close attention is paid to the list of rules that the range has, because almost all ranges have their own unique set of rules that need to be followed. These rules are pertinent to the respective range and they include those things that they may either allow or not allow. It is essential that the rules are double checked because they are posted prominently, and in situations where the individual is not sure, it is important that the range officer is asked before anything new is tried; especially in situations where something has not been tried before on that particular range. There are instances where some ranges, especially trap ranges, do not allow the use of pump shotguns that have a pistol grip. Another example is those ranges that do not allow individuals to make use of drills that involve the drawing of pistols from the holster because it is deemed dangerous.

There are a number of rules that have to be followed within a gun range and these have to be considered at all times. These rules exist for the safety of both the users of the range as well as their neighbors within the range, and it is important that they are followed to the letter. One of the most essential rules that have to be followed is that guns should not be loaded until such a time as the user is on the firing line and is ready to begin shooting. It is also important that the muzzle of the gun is constantly pointed down range because it is an essential means of enhancing the safety of all individuals using the range. It is also critical that the user keeps their gun within a case until they are in position along the shooting line, and following this step, it is essential that the user only shoots at their target and avoid shooting across lanes at all times. Within the gun range, it is a requirement that the users are careful not to shoot towards the floor, the sidewalls, or the ceiling because to do so has the risk of having ricocheting bullets damaging the facility. Furthermore, they have the bullets have the potential of ending up coming back towards the line, which puts the individuals in the range at risk. This is the reason why targets within gun ranges are often hung up at a certain height to make sure that the safety of the individuals within them is upheld. It is critical that the user does not hang a target that is smaller at the bottom of the one that has already been set up because to do so has the potential of making the individual involved end up aiming at the floor; which is a risky move.

In the gun range, the use of paper targets is often recommended because it enhances the safety of the shooter. Such targets are safe to shoot because the bullets pass through directly without going in unpredictable directions. It also does not create any fragments and leaves very little trash behind; ensuring easier maintenance of the range. Among the most important aspects of operating within a range is that it should involve the use of eye and ear protection to prevent any injuries due to flying fragments or extremely loud noise that has the potential of causing permanent hearing problems.

Gun ranges are among the most interesting places to be because they help individuals enhance their shooting skills. Furthermore they are pertinent to the development of means through which individuals can safely handle their firearms without posing a danger to others around them. It is therefore critical that those individuals who make use of gun ranges follow the rules that have been set for them because it ensures that they are not only able to keep themselves and others safe, but also learn more about their responsibility as gun owners.

Catalonian Secession Movement

 

In recent years, the politics of Catalonia, a region in Spain, has experienced a rise in a political alliance among the regional parties that seek independence. A number of factors have led to this development, with most of them taking place at the national level of Spain. The first of these was the economic crisis of 2008[1], which was a blow to the economy of Spain, and from which it is in the process of recovering. Also, there was the rise of numerous corruption cases of top government official at both the regional and national levels of government, as well as a failure to achieve a bipartisan agreement that would have reformed the statute of autonomy in 2006.[2] It is also essential to consider that the Spanish constitution of 1978 had a federalist design that was unsatisfactory to the political elite of Catalonia. A consequence of this situation, as well as the rise of Catalonian nationalism, has been that it has brought about louder calls for independence. In this paper, there will be an analysis of the attempts by the Catalonian government to secede from Spain, and to show that despite some legitimate issues that it has raised, Catalonia does not have the right to secede.

A unified Spain, rather than a divided one, is a critical part of the security, both political and economic, of not only the EU, but also the whole world. The secessionist movement in Catalonia is one that has essentially sought to ensure that there is a split from Spain in order to form its own nation. This is a region that has had a long history of autonomy within the kingdom of Aragon. Furthermore, despite their claims of difference, Catalans speak a language that is quite similar to Spanish.[3] The emphasis on differences can be considered fraudulent on the part of the political class in Catalonia that has essentially come to the realization that it is likely to gain more power within an independent state rather than as a part of Spain. The exercise of the right to secede is one that should be conducted under circumstances where it is a part of the highest moral principles, in such a way that other parties are not to interfere with the process.[4] This is an extremely important factor because it shows that the Catalonian independence bid is one that is technically at odds with the morality of secession. Spain is an interested party to the process, and Catalonia cannot secede without Spain’s permission because to do so would essentially lead to a process of taking away a part of the latter country.

The Spanish Constitution of 1978 is one that was ratified by a majority of Catalonians. This constitution allowed for the achievement of considerable autonomy for the region. Furthermore, the Spanish Constitution, which the Catalans ratified, does not agree to any form of secession, because to do so would lead to the disruption of national integrity.[5] However, despite this being the case, it is noteworthy to consider that the Spanish government has not often made it easy for Catalans to feel like an integral part of the country. This is unlike in Canada, where despite the French Canadians being a minority, there have been a number of prime ministers from this community, which has made them feel like an integral part of Canada. The same cannot be said of Spain, where there has been no Catalan prime minister; a situation that has exacerbated some members of the community and intensified calls for self-determination through secession. Perhaps if the Catalans had been provided with a greater say in national affairs, there would have been fewer calls for independence. It is also necessary to consider that there have also been fights between the national government and the regional Catalonian one over such issues as language instruction, spending, and taxes, among others, which have further made the problem worse.

It is essential to consider that the Catalan independence movement is based on the ethnic identity of people of Catalan origins. A consequence has been that this movement has been accused of being one that promotes elitism in Catalonia, where there is little consideration for Spanish speaking peoples living in the region. The independence movement is one that essentially only considers the rights of ethnic Catalans above those of all others living in the region. Because of this, the movement is illegitimate because the Catalan government has been given not only autonomy, but also considerable control over its own internal affairs, such as in taxation. The Catalan politicians cannot say that they are escaping discriminatory distribution of resources[6], because Catalonia is one of the most economically stable regions within Spain. However, despite this being the case, there are still calls for independence, which shows that there are ulterior motives within the political class. There is likely a bid to ensure that they gain more power than is the case as part of Spain, in such a way that rather than representing the people of Catalonia as a whole, they are seeking to bring about a split from Spain that will ensure their political dominance based on an ethnic Catalan majority.

The secession of Catalonia from Spain has the potential of causing numerous disruptions. This is especially the case considering that Catalonia as a state would end up having a very difficult time joining the European Union because Spain, as a member state, has the power to veto this move. The same would be the case with the use of the Euro, which would make many of the multinationals doing business in Catalonia to relocate to other parts of Spain, where conditions are more favorable. It is therefore essential to view the harsh response that the secessionist movement has received from Spain from the perspective of the latter seeking to protect the legitimate expectations of most of its citizens.[7] The secession of a region could as well be opening a Pandora’s box, which would result in a situation where other regions of Spain would also demand independence. Furthermore, there is the potential that it would have a domino effect in other parts of Europe, such as the independence movements in Scotland, and in Scania, Sweden, where there are also calls, albeit quieter, for independence. Therefore, it is unlikely that Spain will allow for the independence of Catalonia anytime soon because to do so has the potential of bringing an end to its unity as a nation.

In conclusion, the Catalan secession bid has the potential of ending up leading to the generation of animosity towards regional autonomies in the Spanish public. In the discussion above, there has been an analysis of the attempts by the Catalonian government to secede from Spain, and this has ended up showing that despite some legitimate issues that it has raised, Catalonia does not have the right to secede. Secession is a problem that has to be dealt with quite carefully by the Catalan political class because it involves a situation where there are numerous potential problems that might arise because of it. Even if the bid is successful, it is essential to consider that the new nation will have many difficulties, including in joining such critical institutions as the EU and NATO, which it currently is a part of, and are presently taken for granted. Spain’s harsh response to this crisis can be considered to be a means of making sure that there is the promotion of its legitimate interests while upholding the expectations of all the people of Spain.

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[1] Kathryn Crameri, "Political Power and Civil Counterpower: The Complex Dynamics of the Catalan Independence Movement," Nationalism and Ethnic Politics 21, no. 1 (2015): 104.

[2] Robert Liñeira and Daniel Cetrà, "The Independence Case in Comparative Perspective," The Political Quarterly 86, no. 2 (2015): 263.

[3] Liesl Drew, "'I'm from Barcelona': Boundaries and Transformations between Catalan and Spanish Identities," (Uppsala University, 2017), 22.

[4] Allen Buchanan, Secession: The Morality of Political Divorce from Fort Sumter to Lithuania and Quebec (Boulder, CO, San Francisco, CA, Oxford: Westview Press, 1991), 27.

[5] Carmen Gonzalez, "The Catalan National Identity and Catalonia's Bid for Independence," Conn. J. Int'l L. 32 (2016): 115.

[6] Buchanan, 38.

[7] Ibid., 87.

Persepolis

 

Persepolis is a story that I found to be quite captivating, although initially, I had trouble associating with the narrative because of the differences in cultural and social backgrounds. However, while this may have been the case before, I came to the realization that there were a considerable number of similarities between Marjane and myself on several levels. I consequence was that I ended up conducting a closer reading of the entire book as well as the film in a bid to make sure that I learned more about this individual who, despite coming from a different culture and country from myself, displayed quite a number of similar characteristics and shared some of the experiences that I had encountered. Reading Persepolis has ensured that I am able to bring about a situation where I seek to relate events that have happened to others to those that have happened to me, and not dismissing them, as was previously the case. I believe that the choices that I made when it came to the telling of this story are based on my perspectives concerning my family, studying abroad, my difficulties with learning foreign languages, and my lack of knowledge concerning political matters.

One of the most fundamental aspects that I discovered concerning Persepolis is that it is a story that is heavily influenced by the family values of the author. This is to such an extent that it essentially seeks to show the way that Marjane lived in a manner through not only reduced the worry that her family had for her, but also as a means of promoting the legacy of members of her family who were deeply involved in the fight for more freedoms in a country that had a repressive government. In the book Persepolis, she states that “The revolution is like a bicycle… When the wheels don't turn, it falls” (Satrapi 4). However, I seem to have mostly taken the matter of family for granted when writing my analysis because I am an individual who is not as close to my family as Marjane is. Instead, I have often had difficulty with both of my parents, since my father was always often not at home when I was growing up since he was constantly working, while I have never had a good relationship with my mother, with whom I constantly fought over petty issues. Therefore, I have never known a close family relationship and never developed any, even with my extended family, as was the case with Marjane. I have often been kind of a loner, and believe that I am better off without any of my family members because they do not add any value to my life. A consequence is that when considering Persepolis in my bluebook, I did not concentrate too much on the subject of family since it is not one of the greatest priorities in my life.

However, I felt a deep connection with Marjane mainly because she, like myself ended up studying abroad. This is an individual who was sent abroad by her parents as a means of protecting her against the repressive regime that government her home country. Marjane portrays herself as an individual that was extremely rebellious, and this was to such an extent that she ended up in a situation where she was constantly getting into trouble with the religious police. Her rebellious nature became a serious problem for her to such an extent that her parents made the decision to send her to a French lycée in Vienna, Austria, where she would be able to be herself. This is a situation that I also found myself in, although under different circumstances. Because of the considerable trouble that I had with my parents, especially my mother, they made the decision to send me to boarding school at the age of 11. I went to boarding school in Switzerland and it was during this period that I ended up experiencing a foreign culture for the first time. Like Marjane, I had to cope with a new environment where almost everyone and everything seemed to be out of place for me. It was essentially a culture shock that I had to endure for several months until I became acclimatized to the new environment. I have come to the realization that in my writing, I have put most of my efforts on the parts of Persepolis where Marjane was abroad, and I believe that this decision was influenced by my own experiences in a foreign land.

Among the biggest problems that I encountered when studying abroad were the difficulties that I had with language. This was especially the case considering that the school was located near Geneva, which is a French speaking part of Switzerland. A result of this situation, as stated in the bluebook (Gao), was that I could not interact well with people outside the school. Instead, I often found myself in a situation where I remained in school or became a loner. I had no such problems with having interactions with my fellow students in the school because most of them also came from other parts of the world, which meant that we all had to make use of English for most of our interactions. I believe that these experiences may have had a profound influence on the way that I addressed Persepolis. I believe that Marjane’s life in Austria, a country which had nothing in common with her own, as well as the situation where she experienced language barriers in her first few months of living there, resonated well with me to such an extent that I sought to address this part of her life more. I find that the experiences that she had, while not completely similar to mine, since she ended up living on the streets for months, as depicted in the film (Satrapi and Paronnaud), still had an influence on me since I could picture myself in her shoes. I have come to find that living in a country where the culture and the language are completely different from one’s own can be an extremely difficult experience. However, like Marjane, whenever I talked to my parents, I often hid from them the difficulties that I was experiencing, instead telling them that everything was alright, so that they would not end up worrying about me.

Moreover, I seem to have almost completely avoided addressing the matter of politics in Persepolis. This is an area that is very prominent in both the book and the film, yet I ended up in a situation where I avoided the topic, instead focusing more on Marjane’s experiences abroad. The fact that I concentrated so much on this area is critical because it shows that I am an individual that has been raised in a culture where politics are not that important. In my home country, there is only a single political party, and this is one that is dominated by politicians who tend to seek only what is best for themselves. I was raised within an environment where I am completely influenced by the stereotype of a politician that is corrupt and self-seeking. Therefore, I ended up not placing a lot of emphasis on the considerable political content that can be found within Persepolis, and it was only following the intervention of a Russian friend that I came to the realization that it contained a lot of political themes that I had not considered before. A result is that I have come to realize that my bias against politicians should not apply to all members of this class, and I should be able to understand that there are differences between all of these individuals, with some being genuine while others are indeed corrupt. This realization ensured that I was better able to make sure that I took a more objective approach when it came to the analysis of Persepolis.

In conclusion, it is noteworthy to consider that my choices when telling Persepolis were heavily influenced by my own experiences and perspectives concerning life. I mostly applied my experiences in a boarding school abroad in the narrative, which resulted in a situation where I came to associate more with the period where Marjane was abroad. I have come to realize that Marjane and I share a considerable number of experiences in this part of our lives, and this is the reason why I wrote more about it.

Reference

Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis I & Ii. Random House, 2008. Print.

Persepolis. 2007. Rigault, Xavier, Marc-Antoine Robert and Kathleen Kennedy.