to gun regulation at all levels of government.

why are we such a freakin' outlier in the world's civilized societies? We might as well be Somalia in our gun policies...sad, isn't it?

have never really become fully "civilized." We are certainly industrialized, but the right-wing influence in our society tends toward the survival of the fittest (by any means possible) with not very much room for civility or compassion. The right wing believes that violence is an acceptable response to any perceived threat or societal anomaly.

The NRA has become a huge political machine by playing off of this macho "cold dead hands" Libertarian-influenced rugged individualism, and by buying politicians who are afraid to look "weak" when it comes to manly-man things like guns. In a sense, the same mind set can be ascribed to the marketing behind large automobiles, large homes, and large corporations. Violence and bullying is ingrained into the right-wing American psyche, and has become all too acceptable.

I also sincerely believe that the American public, in general, are swinging back to a more liberal way of thinking, and are growing tired of the right-wing "gunz for everyone" meme. Most of the lax and insane gun laws in this nation came about through NRA-purchased legislation, and not the voting process. As voters become more aware of the obscene proliferation of guns, and the damage they do, Liberal politicians are becoming more willing to buck the NRA and the right-wing NRA-apologists who support the unfettered spread of guns on our streets for nothing more than profits.