I am not sure what the debate here is even about--I don't think it is an issue on the table anywhere(at least anywhere in the States) that all of America's guns be taken away, yet when people get anywhere near a point, that is the point that the seem to allude to--

But, that said, I think it is important to address McGrath's point about violence--America is a very violent place--yes, it is true!!!

I don't think that those of you on the other side of the Atlantic really apreciate this--in fact, I know you don't because I talk until I am blue in the face to our European friends and they still don't get the concept about what parts of town to stay away from, and how to walk down the street so that no one messes with you--and what parts of the country it isn't a good idea to try to stroll around and take pictures in--

When I was in Denver last Spring, just after after the Columbine High School incident, there were several other serial killings that were in the news--

Same deal with the Kayla Rowland thing in Michigan--at the same time,there were several other equally horrifying indidents that only made the local papers--

In Big Rapids Mich, four high school students kidnapped a 68 year old disabled veteran, shove him into the trunk of their car, where they either stabbed or shot him(I forget which) and then drove him around and showed him to their friends(none of them bothered to call the police)--They were eventually pulled over for a traffic infraction, and the officers found the man, by this time dead, in the trunk--

Although it frequently involves guns, this violence is not rooted in the availability or legality of guns, and often, the most amazing instances of violence don't involve guns at all--

I can't really say where the violence comes from, but it is there, and seems to be getting worse--

This violence is really the issue, not the Constitution, not the NRA, not what is or is not on TV--

My experience has been when there is a particularly egregious incident of "violence" ther is a great public debate, which people quickly sidetrack to a discussion their favorite running topic, which is one of the above, or maybe "educational reform" or "speed reading" or "school prayer" or some such thing--

Two years later, we end up with gun locks that don't work, federal reading programs that don't work, and much needed tax reform that doesn't work--and so it goes, until another unfortunate gets blown to pieces--