Kendall is right; Lizzie is wrong. It IS addiction; it is NOT apathy.

Gun control is fiercely debated from both sides, and apathy doesn't come into it. The wide availability of semi-automatic weapons in the States continues because it is vociferously defended by a rich and well organised lobby that has to be heeded because it represents the views of many millions of Americans, for whom it is ingrained in their culture.

An American commentator hit it on the nail yesterday when she said there would be no point Obama risking political capital on the issue if he thinks he can achieve nothing. My hope is that the indicators and his own conviction will persuade him to give it a go, because if not now, when?