AMMAN — With a
widespread habit of shooting in public, experts called for concentrated efforts
to preempt the reckless behavior which results in a loss of innocent lives.
اضافة اعلان
The call
coincided with the death of student Sahel Khattab, who died from a stray bullet
as he strolled a street in Amman’s Abu Nseir neighborhood shortly after the
results of the
General Secondary Education Certificate Exam (Tawjihi) were
announced.
The gunman, a
jubilant Jordanian celebrating his brother’s passing the Tawjihi exams, fired
in the air from his building’s rooftop. But the bullet ended up hitting Khattab
in the street. He later confessed to police that he fired the fatal shot, and
was charged with premeditated murder.
Stringent laws exist in Jordan against shooting in
public. But many still opt for it especially in celebrations, like Tawjihi,
weddings, and other occasions to express jubilation.
Experts argued
that toughening the penalties on those who shoot in public is insufficient, and
should be coupled with an effort to influence the cultural and social thinking
by spreading awareness on the negative aspects of the behavior.
Sociologist
Hussein Al-Khuzaie told The
Jordan News that “reckless shooting is one
of the worst behaviors seen in the Jordanian society.”
“There must be
concerted efforts to eliminate it as soon as possible,” he said
“There are many
other ways of expressing joy,” he maintained. “We do not have to resort to
negative behavior that would affect the lives and safety of others.”
“Such a behavior
disturbs other people and upsets their joy”, he added.
He said that
“toughening the penalties for public shooting may reduce this phenomenon, but
does not eliminate it completely”.
He asserted that
there must be concerted efforts by all institutions, including universities,
schools, churches, and mosques, to spread awareness about the seriousness of
this behavior.
“The change
begins with the family, where children should learn the cultural norm of
respecting others, and preserving the safety of others,” he said. “It is
important that they learn to refuse attending events, where behaviors that
threaten public safety may take place.”
Hussein
Al-Mahadin, a professor of Sociology and Criminology at
Mutah University, said
that “toughening the penalties evokes the role of social institution.”
“It is their
role to consolidate the principles on which we were brought up, the most
important of which is the preservation of innocent lives,” Mahadin told
Jordan
News.
“This should be
the common role undertaken by everyone, government and individuals”, he added.
He said people
who reject wrong behavior and articulate their rejection by “refusing to be
part of a negative social behavior, by rejecting invitations from people who
fire in public” should help stem the problem.
“People must
realize that they live in a state of law, where no one is above the law and
that everyone will be held accountable for any wrongdoing”, he said.
“Unfortunately,
some believe that reckless acts such as firing in public will go unpunished,”
he said. “But they should reconsider that, and understand that the state and
its institutions will hold him responsible for any misconduct.”
Retired police
Brig. Gen. Hashem Al-Majali attributed the behavior, partly on the prevalent
tribal mentality.
“The tribal
mentality is dominant, as some believe that firing in public is a manly
behavior and a show of strength, which enhances the sense of pride,” he told
Jordan
News.
He drew parallels
between an attempted murder and firing shots in public, saying both do not
necessarily aim at a specific target but have one thing in common: “the deadly
firearm and the fatal bullet.”
Read more Features
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
