77th Meeting: Gun Control and Political Inaction

Once again, a violent mass shooting brings the plight of poorly regulated gun use to the forefront of our minds.  The Virginia Tech massacre in particular brings to light the lack of monitoring of the mentally ill using guns (Gun Laws Revisited after Cho Shooting Rampage: More Than Half of States Do Not Report Mental Illness to Federal Database).  Predictably, a reactionary stopgap measure is considered (Kaine May Seek More Data for Gun Sales: Governor’s Order Would Address Buyers’ Mental Health).  For the most part, politicians run away from the issue, fearing the wrath of the NRA (America's Tragedy: Its Politicians are Still Running Away from a Debate about Guns).  Maybe it is time for a real, open and public debate (Handgun Control Debate).  Yet does this ever really happen in America anymore or will we forget when the next celebrity highlight (or lowlight) fills the television screen? 

As an outrageous side note, the U.S. has released a terrorist on bail while the public weeps over the massacre.  Only this terrorist “fought” on our side.  So much for public debate about American policies.