Our insanity over guns claims more victims. Is America crazy? - Leonard Pitts

[Electric Monk]

Twelve people killed at a secure naval installation virtually on the front porch of the federal government, eight others hurt, the shooter shot to death, and it’s just another manic Monday, another day in the life of a nation under the gun. So yes, maybe it’s time we acknowledged that gorilla in the back seat, time we asked the painfully obvious.

Is America crazy?

(big snip)

Indeed, for all our historical courage, we are in many ways a terrified people. Scared of the face at the window, the rattle at the door, the Other who wants to take our stuff. Scared of the overthrow of one of the most stable governments on Earth.

So we arm ourselves to the tune of a reported 300 million guns in a nation of 316 million souls — no other country has more guns per capita. Americans, you see, don’t just like and use guns. We worship guns, mythologize guns, fetishize guns, cannot conceive of ourselves without guns.

Thus, the idea of restricting access to them threatens something fundamental. Apparently, we’d rather endure these tragedies that repeat themselves that repeat themselves that repeat themselves as if on some diabolical loop, than explore reasonable solutions.

Is that a quantifiable malady, a treatable disorder?

Is America crazy?

Last week, the Des Moines Register reported that the state of Iowa issues gun carry permits to blind people. And people began debating this on grounds of constitutionality and equal access as if the very idea were not absurd on its face.

Is America crazy?

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cross-posted in Good Reads as well http://www.democraticunderground.com/101673902

[billh58]

1. K&R

The answer is yes -- America IS crazy when it comes to the issue of an irrational fascination with guns. The NRA is directly responsible for the proliferation of lethal weapons in this country, AND the notion that this unhealthy love of guns is "normal" for Americans and is a part of their heritage and culture.

A little less than one-third of 316 million Americans own over 300 million guns, or around 3.75 guns per gun owner. At least 50% (and maybe more) of the 80 million American gun owners have only one gun and keep it at home. The other 40 million gun nuts own most of the guns, want to carry them in public, and allow their guns to fall into the hands of criminals through negligence and sheer irresponsibility.

4 million of the Americans who own an "arsenal" of guns are supporters and cold-dead-hands members of the NRA, and are the worst of the worst. These are the very vocal minority who scream the loudest about "Democrats are coming for our guns." Fuck them.

[rdharma]

2. Is America crazy? The gun fetishists sure are! nt

[LiberalEsto]

3. K&R

Leonard Pitts is a great columnist

[Skittles]

4. look how many gun humpers are on this board

they behave like this gun culture shit is NORMAL - they're DISGUSTING