Ever since our Constitution bound together our "Divided States of America",
the strategy has been to have all of us agree on a universal set of laws and
principles that reflect a united view on human dignity and inalienable rights
- and then allow each state to exercise their "States' Rights" to pass laws that
better reflect the values and culture of their own local community.
In some states it is legal to be a gay, married, pot smoking gun owner, carrying
a concealed weapon, who can choose to "Stand their Ground" if they are being
threatened outside of an abortion clinic...In other states, it is not!
And that balance between Federal Laws and "States' Rights" seemed to work
out pretty well until the Civil War --Civil Rights and an uncivilized political
process became the norm.
Today, "States' Rights" don't seem to stop at the borders. They have become
"code" for "Wedge Issues" that are used to spotlight emotionally charged differences
among us and create national movements to drive people to their respective political
parties.
Issues such as Abortion, Affirmative Action and Health Care are fought and won
on the national stage and than undermined and re-litigated at the local level - so
it can be re-visited again and again back at the Federal level.
In Roe v. Wade, a woman's "Right to Choose" was found to be a Constitutional Right,
triggering certain states to relentlessly try to deny that right by passing laws to prevent access and funding. All with the express purpose to create a favorable precedent for the Courts to re-visit and overturn their decision.
This national and local merry go-round is why it is almost impossible to pass significant legislation anymore, which is why this past Congress has passed the fewest laws since 1940.
But Gun Control might be a turning point...not just for our children who are victims of more gun violence here, than in any other country in the world...but a political approach whereby our Leadership works to solve a problem instead of just being the problem.
When the odds are against you...and that is certainly the case here with an NRA that has a 39 million dollar war chest, in spite of a horrendous track record of spending less than 1% of their money on picking the winners in local and national elections.
You win a National Referendum with winning legislation in a few key local state legislatures.
As has been done with same sex marriage and marijuana...key state victories established a dominoes effect of inevitability which will eventually lead to more states falling into line and finally a Federal law being passed.