"With a Gun in Hand, Follow Me" - Gunfire Against the Communist Party Echoes in Wuhan

One of the scenes from the movie "Let the Bullets Fly": With a gun in hand, follow me. (Video screenshot)

[People News] On May 18, a shooting incident occurred at a night market in Wuhan, Hubei, resulting in at least two people being shot. Authorities attempted to conceal the involvement of firearms in the incident.

According to Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily, multiple videos surfaced online on the evening of May 18, indicating that around 10 PM, a shooting took place at a barbecue stall in the Aiguo community on Chongren Street in the Jiangkou District of Wuhan, where an individual opened fire on outdoor diners. Netizens reported that the shooter fired at least four shots, leading to two fatalities, and fled the scene afterwards.

Chat records circulating online reveal that someone mentioned they had just been eating barbecue on Chongren Road when a person with a gun approached and "shot two people, who died on the spot, causing us to run away in fear." Video from these chat records also shows bloodstains at the scene, with someone covering the face of a person sitting in a chair, who appeared to have lost consciousness, with a cloth.

Taiwan's Liberty Times reported that this news briefly topped the hot search rankings on Chinese Weibo, highlighting the seriousness of the situation, but the hot search was quickly removed, and all related videos and photos were blocked. Only on overseas Chinese social media platforms did the information circulate, showing a man who appeared to have been shot in the head slumped in a chair, while another man lay on the ground, with bystanders hurriedly bringing blankets to cover them, and a large pool of blood on the ground nearby.

The authorities appear to be trying to downplay the fact that this incident is related to firearms. The report from the Qiaokou District Public Security Bureau completely avoids mentioning the word 'gun,' instead describing the event as a case of 'intentional injury' stemming from a dispute in a restaurant. They emphasised that upon receiving the report, the public security agency quickly sent the injured individuals to the hospital for treatment and apprehended the suspect. One of the injured has died despite rescue efforts, while two others are reported to be in stable condition.

However, the narrative from the Chinese Communist Party's public security differs from what is being shared online. Many netizens believe that the victim slumped in the chair is clearly deceased, and the man lying on the ground appears to have been 'shot in the head.' How could there only be one fatality? The authorities have not clarified this discrepancy.

Commentator Su Xiaohé disclosed in his program that he received information from within the country suggesting that this incident was intentionally carried out by soldiers, who were armed with a long gun and a handgun, firing a total of three shots. The situation was quickly brought under control afterwards. He noted that in China, gun control is extremely strict, and firearms cannot be purchased on the market; only military personnel or police are permitted to carry weapons. The reason the soldiers chose to act in Wuhan was to create a narrative that it was the people of Wuhan who fired the first shot in the movement to overthrow Xi Jinping and the Communist Party.

Su Xiaohé further stated that the Communist Party fears the public possessing firearms because of historical events, such as 'the first shot to overthrow the Qing Dynasty being fired in Wuchang.' Once the gunfire erupted in Wuchang, the Qing court announced its abdication. The Communist Party is concerned that this history might repeat itself. In reality, if a country is strong, what does it matter if gunfire occurs? The United States experiences gunfire daily, yet we do not see the American government collapsing.

For decades, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has asserted that 'political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.' Consequently, after seizing control, the CCP has imposed strict bans on private firearm ownership, even mandating real-name registration for the purchase of kitchen knives. The CCP is particularly fearful that scenarios like those depicted in the film 'Let the Bullets Fly,' where characters proclaim 'with a gun in hand, follow me, kill the four lords, and seize the stronghold,' could become a reality. This indicates that the CCP is well aware of the deep-seated resentment the public harbours towards its authoritarian rule; whenever someone raises their voice to shout 'overthrow the Communist Party,' the number of supporters is likely to grow. At present, as the Chinese economy falters and unemployment rates soar, the populace is struggling to survive, leading to rising public discontent and shifting sentiments. Calls for the overthrow of the CCP and the formation of secret organisations are emerging among both civilians and military personnel. In this critical juncture for the CCP's governance, any incidents of gun violence are perceived as direct challenges to its authority.

Some overseas netizens have remarked: What sparked the Wuchang Uprising? 'In times of chaos, heroes emerge from all corners; with a gun in hand, one becomes a king.'