If not now, when? America's endless gun control debate

I agree that the ‘hard-wiring’ referred to is a plausible explanation, that the gun meme is a parasite that has affected the cultural extremists who apparently represent a large percent of the US population. I wonder if it’s another reason the US seems to be in a state of perpetual war and has a military-industrial-academic complex built to support war and that is a fundamental part of its economy.

The gun crowd will say a Boeing 747, a Yugo, a can of petrol or a fingertip can also be used to kill, which is true, but ignores the fact that a firearm is used in most US homicides.

https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/offenses-known-to-law-enforcement/expanded-homicide/expanded_homicide_data_table_8_murder_victims_by_weapon_2008-2012.xls

The gun groups will say that it’s poverty, discrimination, race conflicts, mental health among others that create problems leading to homicide, and no doubt they have a point. But the reality is a firearm is used in most homicides in the US.

The gun groups will say the US constitution, written in the 1790’s using the language of that time, contains an amendment that still pertains today and mustn’t be changed. It’s highly doubtful, however, those who approved the amendment anticipated private arsenals of automatic weaponry.

The US constitution is a man-made document, but I believe with regard to gun ownership reflects a reality that no longer pertains. It can be changed, but the gun crowd intimidates any opposition. And they are well armed and I have no doubt they would use their arms to protect their shooting rights. Or wrongs.

The well-armed gun owner groups threaten ‘come and take it’ to those who question their interpretation of man-made fictions and beliefs in their cultural myths. Google (or Duckduckgo if you don’t want to be tracked) “open carry” “come and take it” to learn about those who want to keep the 18th century alive.

The people who profit most from guns, the gun manufacturing and sales industries, see more guns bought whenever there’s a violent flareup, which in the US seems to becoming an almost everyday occurrence.

The gun business’s enormously powerful lobbying groups spend hundreds of millions to ensure the continued profitability of their rich clients, while thousands more people are killed by guns each year.

Eric Hoffer wrote a book called The True Believer about the psychology of mass movement followers. To me - in principle - the US come and take it gun crowd is similar to the extremists, the fanatics, of any religion or political belief the gun crowd claims they want to protect themselves from. It could be members of the extremist groups have been hard-wired to their fanaticism. Does fanaticism = insanity?

If you don't like guns, don't buy one.

I don't see what the confusion is.

As someone else said, this is like saying 'if you don't like drunk driving, don't drive drunk'.

who are these "Americans" loving and adoring violence? My guess is a teeny tiny proportion of the population - comments

Yes, the teeny portion at the NRA and their paid representatives in State, Local and the Nation's Government. Violence is one of the best sales tools the NRA has created. If the teeny tiny proportion of the population has a representative lobby, it is the NRA. And not a few of the most violent representations of slaughter in many forms of popular entertainment.

So, the comment is correct. No one likes violence but it makes a good buck. The market has spoken on violence.

Maybe what the comment really means is there are very few Americans who are saying enough is enough? Helpless, hopeless and paid off, the American would rather chalk-up violence to patriotism and freedom. Both of which have been the battle cry of the NRA for decades.

Congratulations to the NRA, the most vocal and wealthy promoter of violence and fear in the States, and again, it does make a teeny, tiny portion of the population very, very rich and all of them really, really, really hate violence. "It's bad, that violence, hand me that bag of cash will you?"

What a pointless article. Since guns do not float magically and kill, it isn't the gun. No the presence of weapons does not make peaceful people instantly crazy nor would they limit themselves based on weapons.

It is much easier kill a lot of people with a gun. It is a device designed purely to kill and is available for anyone to buy over the counter in the USA. Crazy people should not be allowed access to guns.

So on this Japan-focused news site we're going to have a 100% America-centric news article? Okay, I'll bite:

The problem is a very simply combination of two fallacies:

1) Americans cannot have a rational discussion about gun regulation. Every time the topic even comes up, someone twists it into being about taking away all guns from everyone. It's a technique for gun-fans to shut down discussions of gun regulation they disagreed with, even as they claim their guns are necessary to protect First-Amendment rights.

2) Gun supporters have been convinced their guns are necessary by the NRA, which is constantly telling gun supporters that the world is a dangerous place and the only way to be safe is by having the most guns possible. Never mind that there has never been evidence that an armed population can stop a spree-killer (and quite a bit of evidence so far that they don't, and even potentially make things worse), never mind that violent crime in general is on the decline in the US, The NRA feeds gun supporters a steady stream of anti-government paranoia and race-based propaganda to convince gun supporters that they need guns. The end result is massive profits for the tax-exempt NRA and leaders who make CEO-level salaries, all run by donations from a public that has been duped into thinking if they don't give money to the NRA, the scary black man in the White House will come and take away all their toys.

Thank God I live in Japan, where this sort of absurdity isn't really an issue.

Plenty of things kill more people than guns and nobody's screaming to stop that.

@gaijinfo There is what we can control on one hand, and what we can't on the other.

And there is plenty of talk (screaming) about heart disease, obesity, smoking, drunk driving, speeding, drug use, AIDS, etc.

As for myself, I do like guns. I just like other people having them! If I could, I would disarm the entire world of guns and everything more powerful. Sadly, I cannot do that. I have to live in this reality, and that is why, despite my anti-gun stance, I spoke as I did in my previous post.

But the experience of gun control in other countries, even with widespread gun ownership, is not a dream. It is a reality that American can attain to make America safer.

Their argument hinges on two key premises: no law can prevent criminals or the mentally unstable from getting their hands on a gun or opening fire; faced with these real threats, law-abiding citizens need guns to protect themselves.

This absurd statement is accurate for the NRA sponsored public relations mantra.

The premise is false: "no law can prevent criminals or the mentally unstable from getting their hands on a gun"

The conclusion is false: "faced with these real threats, law-abiding citizens need guns to protect themselves"

What this illustrates is the convoluted logic the NRA has taught (and paid Legislators to fear) for years to their paranoid fan base. It is a very effective way to invoke one of the oldest advertising themes: "Scare and Sell".

Of course the effect of this type of slogan results in less safety and less freedom, not a defense of either.

As the assumption shows, the NRA doesn't want the mentally unstable to have their "rights" abridged. This flawed logic then sets up the conclusion that everyone should have guns, including the mentally unstable, the person with limited maturity, the angry racist, the addled elderly, angry teenager and shopper Mom whose tiny tot reaches into her handbag and kills at the superstore.

The casting of the Second Amendment as a license to kill for freedom has successfully made billions for the gun slaughter industry and promoted the most angry, limited and paranoid to ardently believe they should be able to kill and the best way to kill is with a gun. It is not open to debate. The NRA has founded a nation of zombie killers whose continued obsession with guns and the reckless lack of control of firearms is just good business.

The Oregon mass shooting is the 294th this year. And the NRA celebrates with renewed campaigns of paranoia and profits that require one thing, an endless supply of guns to create an endless supply of dead bodies. So far, the NRA has much to be proud of. Their sales campaign is working and every American is under threat and the only answer to that threat is more guns. That the American gun cultures goal and the profit motive behind the slaughter of thousands of innocent Americans.

Freedom isn't free, you have to buy a gun first, and two would be better.

The Americans' love and adoration of violence is truly creepy and disgusting. Instead of worrying about gun "rights", why don't they worry about voting rights?

With all due respect, America (North, Central & South and the Caribbean) has nothing to do with this sad matter ... it's the United States of America (U.S./USA)!

Hah! I'm guessing you didn't realize you just made the argument for fun control.

Me too :)

I'm just scared for my family that lives in the US.

Since guns do not float magically and kill, it isn't the gun. No the presence of weapons does not make peaceful people instantly crazy nor would they limit themselves based on weapons.

What a ridiculous attempt at logic.

@Strangerland - I'll give you my fun when you pry it from my cold dead hands!

@Strangerland - I'll give you my fun when you pry it from my cold dead hands!

Unfortunately (for you), you may very well end up in that position in the USA. Too many guns.

Oh I couldn't agree more, and wouldn't dream of owning one. Luckily for me I live in a country where I don't really have to worry about it.

The US has a lot of good and some bad as well, but it is hands down the dumbest nation on the planet when it comes to guns, and gun-nutters among the stupidest people. Period. There is absolutely no denying that they are completely lacking in logic and humanity, and it's only when one of their own family gets killed by a gun (usually their own), that SOME of them (some sink further into denial) finally wake up, too late.

No Kidding Katsu78. I have to bite too.

Never going to happen. Too many people afraid of a tyrannical government. More people are rightfully afraid of the government than street thugs.

I know this article was brought on by the last shooting but, I just got to point out that the very large majority of the gun deaths in the U.S. are because of suicide. Choice of gun - pistol.

Wish gunpowder was never invented. Blame it on the Chinese~.

I am not against the second amendment per se, However, it should be obvious to a dead rat that the words "well regulated militia" are not in there just because Thomas Jefferson was feeling glib. If any part needs serious interpreting, its the "shall not be infringed" part. I don't see how licensing, registration, psyche evals and storage requirements should be considered infringement if you can still have your gun or flame thrower. In fact, I would be happy to have trained, vetted militia-men armed with mortars, hand-grenades and SAMs. As it stands now, our militias would have no chance if fascists took over Washington, and don't say it won't happen. Such coups happened enough in human history that that is why TJ put the second amendment in there, shortly before the Bonaparte family took France, and long before the Nazis took Germany.

no law can prevent criminals or the mentally unstable from getting their hands on a gun or opening fire

If that were true, mentally unstable people and criminals would be shooting people left, right and center in Japan. And yet, it doesn't happen.

The Americans' love and adoration of violence is truly creepy and disgusting.

Which "Americans" are you talking about? I don't see any Americans here glorifying violence. Or many here in the US either. Everyone I ever speak to is against it. So who are these "Americans" loving and adoring violence? My guess is a teeny tiny proportion of the population.

Exactly gaijininfo. Thumbs up

If that were true, mentally unstable people and criminals would be shooting people left, right and center in Japan. And yet, it doesn't happen.

If what you said was true then mentally unstable people and criminals should be stabbing people left, right and center in Japan.

America will not change. That is America's destiny as long as strongly depending on guns for security/protection. It seems that Americans would just have to endure more tragedies in the future.

What a pointless article. Since guns do not float magically and kill, it isn't the gun. No the presence of weapons does not make peaceful people instantly crazy nor would they limit themselves based on weapons.

All over the world murder and rape happens and every single instance involves a psychopath who did not learn from his culture the ultimate right to life all others have. Murder, whether a mass shooting in America to a sarin gas attack in a Japanese subway are caused by former humans who's culture ultimately created them and if not now when, will all countries deal with the real problem, the lack of respect for life each culture creates is some.

If you don't like guns, don't buy one.

I don't see what the confusion is.

Plenty of things kill more people than guns and nobody's screaming to stop that.

Personally I like guns. There are too many out there and there is no going back.

As corrupt and war mongering as my US government is, and set on controlling every aspect of resource, trade, geopolitics and individual rights, I see no reason to give up our guns. There may come a day. You know, they always tried to take the guns away from the Native Indians, and look what happened to them.