Gun Control

You knew it was coming eventually right?

"Are we sorry that 32 people, most of them no older than 22, were killed? Of course. But we aren't so sorry that we intend to do anything to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. We value the lives of Mary Read, Ryan Clark, Leslie Sherman, and all the rest, but we value more their killer Cho Seung Hui's untrammeled right to purchase not only a Glock 19 and a Walther P22, but also the ammunition clips that, according to the April 18 Washington Post, would have been impossible to obtain legally had Congress not allowed President Clinton's assault-weapon ban to expire three years ago."

- Timothy Noah, How Sorry Are We?

It seems to me that people are more concerned and mobilized about preventing Don Imus from saying racist and sexist things, but not as energized about keeping future Cho Seung Hui's from obtaining their instruments of death. Seriously what is it going to take for us to put more restrictions on guns in this country? Probably only when a terrorist from the middle east shoots up a mall (and kills more than 32 people apparently) with legally purchased semi-automatic and automatic weapons will politicians be empowered to curb the unfettered access to guns we currently have. But there were probably be calls to arm people more, not less.

Jacob Weisberg details here why gun laws are still so unrestrictive despite the majority of people favoring greater restrictions on access to guns.

I would be in favor for either of the following. The repeal of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act which would allow gun companies to be sued (this law put the brakes on efforts to sue gun companies in New york City). Or having gun laws similiar to those in Australia and The United Kingdom.

But apparently that's not going to happen anytime soon regardless of which party controlls the White House. The fact that a state like Montana (pop. 902,195) has just as much power in the Senate as New York (pop. 18,976,457) further ensures that guns will remain easily accessible despite the will of the majority of the people.