The Aurora massacre pushes the gun kettle to the front burner.
Several facts:
—– The entire country of Japan had 11 gun deaths all of last year, fewer than the 12 killed in one day in Aurora.
—– The year before our visit to Quebec City, it experienced no homicides during the entire year.
—– A high percentage of the 100-plus homicides in Indianapolis each year involve gun shot.
—– The National Rifle Association is an extremely powerful organization.
—– The Second Amendment is used to protect gun ownership rights.
Several observations
—– When we lived in Costa Rica (a part of Latin America that I formerly thought of as a place of civil unrest and frequent coups), I learned about their image of the United States as a violent place. Now I’ve come to understand that ours is a gun culture. I grew up with guns on the farm. I first had a bee-bee gun, then a 5-10, a .20 gauge shotgun and a 22 rifle. But ours was not a gun culture at that time.
—– So effective has been the NRA that politicians fear offending it, including those politicians who personally would support tighter gun control.
—– I am not aware of programs that teach gun safety, although they surely exist. Nor am I aware of ways that the NRA promotes safe gun ownership and use.
Current conclusion
While the gun kettle is on the front burner, there will be lots of talk but little action excepting more misuse of guns. Alas.
PS A good friend invited me to go with him to the shooting range. I think I’ll go 1) to be a friend, 2) to have fun, and 3) to learn more about our gun culture.