The gun lobby has won the battles. They've gotten the policy regime they want.
The onus is on them to make some sort of token effort to address the problem of random massacres. To aid in wrapping the national head around the enormity of the problem of understanding these things and preventing them. The ball is in your court. Nothing is not a response, and politically, a response will be demanded.
Liberals have a majority big enough to elect a president, but not nearly big enough to enact meaningful legislation in this area. There is no "gun-grabbing" on the horizon for the forseeable future. Zero. It won't happen, because it can't happen. But clearly, there will be--is--a mandate for something. Yet nothing can happen without support of at least some fraction of voters who oppose all gun regulation, without some fraction of the political gun lobby & industry, and without some fraction of lawmakers.
So we're at an impasse. We need creativity.
After the Tucson shooting, I wrote a diary specifically addressing RKBA, asking for suggestions on alternatives to gun control. And I asked a question then that only grows more urgent every fucking week:
I ask this question with earnestness and sincerity; I am agnostic on the usefulness of gun control legislation as we have known it. I am more or less convinced that past approaches are political non-starters, and new thinking is required.
So what legitimate steps can be taken to reduce random massacres enabled by access to enormous firepower, without constraining freedoms guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment?
Within the current legal framework, what else can be done without infringing on the rights accorded to law-abiding citizens?
I didn't go back and re-read the whole thread, but as I recall, the comments were mostly the usual noise that rapidly fills up any thread about guns. About the only actual policy recommendations were for increased funding and awareness for mental health issues and anti-poverty programs.
Great.
So when does the gun lobby (by which I mean everyone on the political spectrum from the NRA to RKBA) get behind any of that? When does the gun lobby take even one positive, pro-active step to solve a real and growing problem? Isn't it obvious that they bear some sort of responsibility? This is the policy regime they have fought tooth and nail for.
(PS I don't want to hear any of the usual dilatory bullshit about alcohol, or cars, or any other goddamn thing that has nothing to do with guns. Spare me.)