UAE

A Closer Look: America's mass shooting epidemic

The National hears from the head of the Washington DC bureau Tom Watkins

The National

April 20, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

A Closer Look is The National's show where we take an in-depth look at one of the main stories of the week.

Gun crime is a danger that residents in the UAE have no fear of ever encountering while in the Emirates. But across the globe, US residents live in the knowledge that every day, a mass shooting is carried out on home soil.

In the last 10 days alone, a shooting at a party in Alabama has left four teenagers dead, and in Kentucky a bank employee killed five of his colleagues.

However, many who live among the roughly 350 million guns owned in America also tend to look towards the Middle East with criticism about violence and gun death.

This week, the head of The National's Washington DC bureau, Tom Watkins, visited Abu Dhabi and had a chance to look back at his adopted home. With fresh perspective he recounts the reality of living in a country with a worsening gun problem, and very little being done about it.

You can read a more detailed account of Tom's experience here.

Read more

Tennessee Governor moves to strengthen background checks after Nashville shooting

Pupils across US stage walkouts over school shootings

Speaking out about gun violence: in pictures

Miguel Cerrillo, father of Miah Cerrillo, a grade four pupil at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, wipes away tears as he speaks during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on gun violence on Capitol Hill in Washington. EPA
Miguel Cerrillo, father of Miah Cerrillo, a grade four pupil at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, wipes away tears as he speaks during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on gun violence on Capitol Hill in Washington. EPA
Miah, who survived the mass shooting, appears on a screen during the hearing. The New York Times / AP
Miah, who survived the mass shooting, appears on a screen during the hearing. The New York Times / AP
Felix and Kimberly Rubio, parents of Lexi Rubio, 10, a victim of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, speak before the committee. The New York Times / AP
Felix and Kimberly Rubio, parents of Lexi Rubio, 10, a victim of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, speak before the committee. The New York Times / AP
Congressman Pete Aguilar speaks with reporters about Democratic efforts to curb gun violence following the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York. AP
Congressman Pete Aguilar speaks with reporters about Democratic efforts to curb gun violence following the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York. AP
Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries and Congresswoman Lucy McBath talk to reporters about Democratic efforts to curb gun violence. AP
Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries and Congresswoman Lucy McBath talk to reporters about Democratic efforts to curb gun violence. AP
Ms McBath's son, Jordan, was killed by gun violence in 2012. AP
Ms McBath's son, Jordan, was killed by gun violence in 2012. AP
Activists rally in Washington outside the US Capitol demanding action from Congress. AFP
Activists rally in Washington outside the US Capitol demanding action from Congress. AFP
Activists hold up a sign outside the US Capitol. AP
Activists hold up a sign outside the US Capitol. AP
Representative Carolyn Maloney speaks during the committee hearing. Reuters
Representative Carolyn Maloney speaks during the committee hearing. Reuters
Greg Jackson, executive director of the Community Justice Action Fund, speaks during the committee hearing. Reuters
Greg Jackson, executive director of the Community Justice Action Fund, speaks during the committee hearing. Reuters
Activists protest near Capitol Hill on Wednesday before the March for Our Lives demonstration, which will take place on Saturday. AFP
Activists protest near Capitol Hill on Wednesday before the March for Our Lives demonstration, which will take place on Saturday. AFP
Gun control activists hold up signs in Washington. AFP
Gun control activists hold up signs in Washington. AFP
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia speaks during the hearing. EPA
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia speaks during the hearing. EPA
National Education Association President Becky Pringle speaks during the hearing on gun violence. EPA
National Education Association President Becky Pringle speaks during the hearing on gun violence. EPA
Nick Suplina, senior vice president for law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety, speaks before the committee. Reuters
Nick Suplina, senior vice president for law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety, speaks before the committee. Reuters
Activists rally against gun violence on Wednesday in Washington. AFP
Activists rally against gun violence on Wednesday in Washington. AFP
Activists wear orange, a colour representing gun violence in the US. AFP
Activists wear orange, a colour representing gun violence in the US. AFP
New York City Mayor Eric Adams appears before the committee. EPA
New York City Mayor Eric Adams appears before the committee. EPA
Dr Roy Guerrero, a paediatrician from Uvalde, Texas, speaks before the committee. The New York Times / AP
Dr Roy Guerrero, a paediatrician from Uvalde, Texas, speaks before the committee. The New York Times / AP
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, second row right, listens to survivors of gun violence. EPA
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, second row right, listens to survivors of gun violence. EPA
Zeneta Everhart, mother of Zaire Goodman, who was injured in the Buffalo, New York, shooting, said that her son's leg is riddled with shrapnel. EPA
Zeneta Everhart, mother of Zaire Goodman, who was injured in the Buffalo, New York, shooting, said that her son's leg is riddled with shrapnel. EPA
Representative Robin Kelly tears up during the hearing on gun violence. EPA
Representative Robin Kelly tears up during the hearing on gun violence. EPA
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz was one of many who became emotional during the hearing. EPA
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz was one of many who became emotional during the hearing. EPA
Lucretia Hughes, of DC Project - Women for Gun Rights, becomes emotional during the hearing. AP
Lucretia Hughes, of DC Project - Women for Gun Rights, becomes emotional during the hearing. AP
Republicans Jim Jordan and James Comer confer during the hearing. Reuters
Republicans Jim Jordan and James Comer confer during the hearing. Reuters
Gabby Giffords, a former Democratic US representative, speaks during the opening of the Gun Violence Memorial on the National Mall in Washington on Tuesday. Ms Giffords was shot at a political rally in Tucson, Arizona, in 2011. AFP
Gabby Giffords, a former Democratic US representative, speaks during the opening of the Gun Violence Memorial on the National Mall in Washington on Tuesday. Ms Giffords was shot at a political rally in Tucson, Arizona, in 2011. AFP
Where to buy art books in the UAE

There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.

In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show. 

In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.

In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.

England Test squad

Ben Stokes (captain), Joe Root, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts

 
Updated: March 06, 2024, 8:09 AM`
USShootingsA Closer Look