re: #278 palomino

A very good question, the kind that’s asked in countries that have comparatively very low gun murder rates. But we still hold on to our Wild West traditions a little tightly…and, as someone above pointed out, we also indulge in the fantasy that civilians sitting in movie theaters, restaurants, shopping malls, classrooms (jeez) can stop mass murder regardless of the situation.

We indulge in that fantasy because what’s the alternative, other than an admission and acceptance of the reality that owning and carrying a gun does not insure one’s safety against crime? That there’s always a criminal who’s better armed, better prepared, or just crazy enough not to give a damn if you wave a gun in his face. That’s the downside to our independent streak as a nation, our hatred of feeling powerless or needing to rely upon others to protect us.