At the heart of a country where armed violence is on the rise and where the right to abortion is restricted, Simon Rousseau recounts his daily life in the United States, where he has lived for 11 years.
Established in North Carolina, the biochemist is now used to seeing people carrying their weapons freely, but he does not hide that he experienced a shock when he arrived in the country in September 2011.
“It is sure that we are not used to Quebec, but here, you get used to it in the long run”, indicates the native of La Prairie.
The 31-year-old spent his first ten years in Texas and then moved to North Carolina in the summer of 2021.
“In Carolina, I’m new, so I don’t know their position [sur les armes à feu], he explains. On the other hand, Texas has always been open to it.
He says carrying guns has been more permissive in the state in recent years as Texas Governor Greg Abbott removed several restrictions on getting a gun, including no background checks.
“If you have a permit, you can now move around campus and in classes [avec une arme scellé à ta ceinture]. Of course, it was not well received, especially by the teachers. You never know what a student’s reaction will be if you fail them, notes the biochemist. Especially for some, they think that studies are the most important business of their life.
He says he was lucky not to witness such a conflict while studying at Texas A&M University. Still, he doesn’t think the United States would solve the gun problem with tougher legislation. Since several weapons are already in circulation, he believes that people would have to make it easier to obtain one illegally.
In the most criminal neighborhoods, including the one he lives in in the city of Durham in North Carolina, residents are caught in a vicious circle.
“The city has a high crime rate, especially with street gangs,” he says. It forces residents to get weapons, since the others around have them.
Asked whether he fears living in this neighborhood, Mr. Rousseau says he still has a little worry, but says he got used to it.
“Of course we take precautions, but we don’t stop living,” he concludes.
Even if he’s not interested, he can’t get a gun anyway, since he’s not an American citizen.
Abortion
About the reversal of the judgment Roe v. Wade in the United States, which gives the power to states to legislate on the right to abortion, Simon Rousseau believes that the impact is not the same for everyone.
“It causes a lot of inequality in access to services,” he explains. When you have the means, you will be able to go [dans un autre État] to do so, while those who do not have it will have no choice but to go for less safe abortions.
In terms of history, he believes this is the first time the Supreme Court of the United States has taken away a right from its citizens.
“It’s really something disturbing, since it opens the door to other reversals of judgments, he fears. It is to step back after the hard work that has been done to protect women’s rights.
When he issued his decision, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said that judgments that authorize same-sex marriage, same-sex relationships and access to contraceptives should be reviewed.
“The religious minority seems to be able to override what people really want,” he said.
Move
Simon Rousseau moved to the state of Texas in 2011 after receiving a scholarship to play on the Texas A&M University archery team. He completed a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and genetics and holds a doctorate in biochemistry.
“People pick up guns because they like it, not because they actually need it.”
-Simon Rousseau
