On Friday, July 20th 2012 I had an idea that could solve the gun problem in America - The Gun Incident Tax.
Posted it in the 2nd Amendment topic in the Skeptic's Society Forum, which had become a catch-all for everything gun related. Also put it in a few other forums and got a fair number of comments. Some time later, as I gradually realized the importance of it, I started a new topic about it: GIT
Of course, posts in forums have very little power to influence society, so, mainly kuz I had a little time to kill, I did a Care2 petition about it a few weeks ago. Care2 G I T
7 signatures. Seriously. Not obvious enuff, I suppoze.
What really bugged me today was a Care2 petition to stop suspected terrorists from buying guns that has almost 50,000 signatures! Woud a petition against using silicone sealant as toothpaste get a million just because it's so stupidly obvious?
I get regular emails from the Sandy Hook Promise organization. I've replied with details about the GIT and links to the petition, but got little or no response and no sigz. Seems to be just another money grab charity. Pretty soon we will be hearing news about outrajous salaries and shady deals with the NRA.
The problem may be that most people get locked into conventional thinking very quickly - following the herd is part of how their brains work. In the case of guns, the NRA & its ilk have done a good job over the last 50 years of setting up the fences that keep the herd in a controllable range. Even when someone manages to pass a new gun control law, it is always well within the range they've established - not that they just sit back and let it happen, but it just duznt make any difference.