The nature of the arguments made by gun advocates and slavery defenders seems eerily similar. The American south (and rural hinterland) defends its position by citing the constitution which of course also allowed them to own people. They describe the attack as nothing more than the first step in a giant plan by the evil federal government to take over their land and crush their freedom. The need for huge magazines and assault weapons is defended as either irrelevant to crime control or necessary to protect one’s family from home invasion – by an army. What exactly is the argument against background checks?

The irrational justification is no different to: –slaves are better off as chattel and will fail as freemen, or – this is not just about justice, it’s about a way of life and avoiding economic failure. The gun defenders have created a new definition of a better America – one where everyone owns an AK. A slave owner is a slavery defender. Every time I listen to an avid gun nut I am reminded of how in the end, it all comes down to paranoia. If he were alive Timothy McVeigh would be a perfect spokesman.

And yet in spite of overwhelming national support for restrictions of assault weapons and expanded background checks, the transparent ownership of Congress by special interests, rules. The corruption of our government has been stripped naked for all to see. When asked to explain our backwardness to any foreigner I’m sure I feel exactly as any Republican felt in 1858 when asked by a foreign dignitary to explain why slavery still existed in the USA. Regulations and restrictions have been in place everywhere else for many years.

I feel especially cheated by the fact that this is not a dispute between 2 voting factions. A national referendum on gun control would crush the NRA. The world can see how our democratic system has been destroyed yet not a single significant political figure is offering a solution to the profound corruption problem. This is embarrassing – Congress doesn’t even want to debate the new bill.

Voters are discussing gun regulation while legislators are arguing about cash.

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