This film basically examines America's obsession with guns and violence in the context of the tragedy at Columbine High School. Moore looks at many aspects of American society in the hunt for the reasons why America has such a high rate of gun-related homicides in comparison with the rest of the world. Is it because Americans have easy access to guns? Is it because the US government prefers to settle things with dropping bombs? Is it because the violence people see on television? Is it because the media keeps Americans informed of dangers around them? Is it because of the Second Amendment? Moore doesn't offer definitive answers, only pointed questions. The movie gives everyone who sees it a reason to think.
I didn't think that I would ever figure out the reason why the U.S. has enormously more gun-related deaths than those in any other country until I saw the movie. I discovered that it is because of fear Americans feel in their lives. As a non-White; this was a sort of culture shock to me. The Japanese don't feel as much fear toward to their own people so there is no need of protecting themselves from others with guns. However, America's tradition of viewing others as possible enemies contributes to the country's tendency for violence. America is a fear-based culture, and it has been that way since the beginning of the nation. The fear is simply illustrated in the cartoon that Moore uses in the film. The Pilgrims were afraid of the Indians, so they killed them. Then they were afraid of witches so they burned them. Next they were afraid of the British so they passed the Second Amendment. The fear continues through the slavery and the growth of an unhappy slave population to the invention of guns and the creation of the NRA. I also realized that Americans in general are afraid because of the way the media portrays society.
In "Bowling for Columbine," there are no easy answers, just a number of very uneasy questions.