We have this debate with monotonous regularity. The fact is that America as a society seems to be content with this state of affairs and willing to accept a high death rate. The rest of the world finds this utterly baffling. Of course a considerable number of Americans feel the same, but apparently not enough to swing the balance.

Among the reasons given for needing guns are that many Americans live in remote areas, a long way from law enforcement and among dangerous animals, and also that there is a culture of hunting for both sport and food. All good reasons, but ones which apply equally to Canada which nevertheless manages to have gun control and a much lower homicide rate.

The one I find really puzzling is that despite Americans being justifiably proud of their system of constitutional democracy they feel the need to arm themselves against their own government.