You know how some people spend 10 or 15 years complaining about their job instead of taking action to change things, and then after that 15 years they realize that they’re still where they were all that time ago? Nothing changed because they didn’t TRY.
For the person that did change, Maybe the first idea didn’t work, maybe the second, or third, but they kept trying because they were making an HONEST attempt to change something.
The NRA/GOP ideological complex is an example of that person who refused to take action. They just sit down and pout.
ONE (let alone dozens) school shooting is enough to make a ton of people want to “ban guns”. It is an emotional and illogical reaction to a horrible event…but it is happening.
There are many things that could have been tried: expanding mental health care, education programs, background checks ( I know….gasp and clutch your pearls), storage laws….I’m sure there are more things.
But instead, people just dig their mule-like heels into the ground and made petulant, selfish, simple-minded, “don’t tread on me” noises.
What I’m endeavoring to say is that doing nothing, when you are outnumbered, and facing a real problem (Gun violence is a real problem. It may not be my problem, or your problem really, because we’re not horrible people, but it is A problem. A problem that the majority of Americans want to do something about- regardless of the accuracy of their perceptions. It is THEIR reality,) will get you nowhere.
From a selfish perspective, as a gun owner it would benefit ME to work with the people who disagree with me. No matter how hard that is. Otherwise I look like a callus, uncaring fool who is unable to perceive nuance.
So here we are 15 years later, and we’ve done nothing, but we’re still complaining about people wanting to ban guns. I’d much rather have an expanded mental health program I don’t like, or a stupid storage law, than the man outlawing my guns completely. Life is about compromise. If you’re completely unwilling to compromise on anything, ever, then your acting a fool.