So many good points here! Such an interesting discussion!
Guns will not be banned in the U.S. The issue is too emotional on both sides. I personally hate guns, have never owned a gun, do not have guns in my house, and never intend to. None of my family - parents, husband - have ever had guns in their homes. If you're afraid, get a big dog.
But, owning guns is a 'right' written into our sacred constitution and so I don't ever see them being banned. Politicians bring out the gun control issue when they want to distract voters from the real issues.
I still think we're missing the big issue. In my humble opinion, the basic issue underlying all of this is that we have to figure out how, as a society, to deal effectively with violence, disrespect and cruelty to fellow human beings. Violence is growing. Our population is at record heights and so we see more of this kind of thing on the news not only because Yorick & Moridin are right - bad news sells big - but because with more people in the world, there are more people to do crazy sh*t.
The attitudes of "Kids will be kids" or "boys will be boys" or "what else can you expect" from children raised by a single/neglectful/abusive/working parent or in a ghetto or
whatever the excuse is this week, these attitudes need to be addressed & CHANGED. These attitudes are excuses for everyone to hide their heads in the sand. "Oh,yes, it's sad, but I can't do anything about that because kids will be kids/or if only parents would do their jobs or .... " What is ignored is that the bullies in schools are often the most popular kids! The kids that come from supposedly 'good' families, and who are very successful socially in school - cheerleaders, School sports stars, etc. Humans need to stop trying to make themselves feel better about themselves by behaving like baboons to others.
What can we do to address this? If every child & person in every country could learn to care about their fellow humans just because they are human, despite differences, wouldn't violence stop? It's a tremendously huge task, but we have to start somewhere. At home, but also at school. Going after media, or guns, or abortion or whatever your issue is doesn't address what really needs to be done. Communities can work together to learn to resolve conflicts, and to teach our children to do the same.
I'm an idealist. And I do tend to get on my soapbox now and then! Feel free to disagree with me. That's your right after all!
I'll shut up now.
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Having abandoned my search for truth, I am now looking for a good Fantasy.