Swift wrote:Rommie wrote:So? We already had a major shoot up an army base at Fort Hood, and a man who shot up a classroom of six year olds, hell even a sitting member of Congress. I really don't see how if as a society these are accepted as "the price we pay" and what not one incident of an old man with his wits addled is going to change that.
(Though don't get me wrong, it would be nice if it did.)
Exactly (I think I've said the same thing). Gun control in the US is a lost cause; I don't think there is any incident that could be horrific enough to change things (apparently 26 dead children and their teachers isn't enough). We have decided as a society that
thousands of people killed a year by firearms is just the price we have to pay for freedom.
In 2010 the percentage of the population killed by gun violence is .004% IF you include the suicides which account for 2/3 of all the gun deaths it is .01% In 2010 there were 2,468,435 deaths of which presumably approximately 30,470 gun deaths were included. That means effectively of all the deaths in the U.S. in 2010 1.2% can be attributed to guns.
In essence, when it comes time to shape public policy and you want to get the most bang for your buck then most people are going to focus on heart disease and cancer. Why? because they accounted for over 1 million deaths in 2010. Over 50% vs 1.2%.
But, don't lose heart. Because, change is happening. It just happens incrementally, in fits and spurts, and sputters. Look at Colorado. 10 years ago if you predicted that Colorado state would pass gun laws more restrictive than the federal government you would have been laughed out of the bar and the bartender would have stopped serving you.
Another example of change. It's been a law now for several years. If you are someone whose job requires you to carry a gun and you are convicted of a domestic battery you lose the right to carry a gun on the job. Doesn't matter if you are a cop or a soldier. One domestic battery charge and your career is side lined. Possibly irrevocably.