Last edited Thu Jun 12, 2014, 06:30 PM - Edit history (1)

Especially when you have a complete and utter asshole like "Joe the Plumber" arguing that a parent's grief doesn't trump is 2nd Amendment rights.

This is all about money..... money from gun manufacturers.

I opened the thread thinking it might offer an effective idea or two - but no such luck.

it's Sandy Hook, not Hood, and I believe you meant 2nd amendment, right? not the 4th, which protects against illegal search and seizure. Other than that, I agree about "Joe the Asshole". (We know he's not a plumber, but is, indeed, an asshole.)

so I was typing fast and not accurately.

Why can't Democrats make gun control the 'issue' like republicans have made abortion???
Why can't we have red line in the sand?
When we stand up and say enough is enough???

How many more must die?

The conversation in both parties is controlled by those with money and power. IMO....

...except there's very little bread and we in the 99% are the unwilling gladiators in the gruesome and bloody circuses.

It's time to come to grips with the fact that major institutions in this country are enablers, if not active promoters of these insane acts of violence. I believe they do that because they benefit from pitting we 99 percenters against each other.

We can do our best to lance the boils one at a time, but we need to cure the systemic infection that causes them, and the first step is to recognize that it exists.

The sentiment against banning handguns is growing in this country. Back in the late 1960's, only about 35-40% (depending on the poll) opposed a ban on handguns. The most recent polls show an astounding 74% who are against the idea of banning handguns. Even a ban on military-style weapons with detachable magazines polls only around 50% in favor -- and that's a drop from 80% in favor back in the early 1990's.

So banning guns is an uphill slog and it's getting worse.

One interesting thing, though, is that when a poll question is stated generically as "Do you favor increased gun control" the most recent polls show about 55% of Americans in favor and 45% opposed (again, I'm averaging and rounding from multiple surveys). But when the specific question is asked, "Do you favor requiring background checks for all gun purchases" the approval jumps to 80% or more. Other specific measures, like increasing the penalties for "straw man" purchases also receive approval rates of 70% or more.

It's sort of like the Affordable Care Act. People don't like Obamacare but they like all of its specific features.