For all this bluster, it is a bit odd seeing ads all over your page trying to sell me "the best gun for concealed carry."

But then again, I see ads for strip clubs next to articles decrying the objectification of women here all the time.

Money first, integrity second. You know Google ads uses these, and if you actually cared about these issues, you would stop making your money off of things you claim are detrimental to society, Stranger.

"You can give us a culture of values instead of a culture of violence. "

Ironically, on the day of the Columbine shootings, the US, through NATO was lobbing missiles into Yugoslavia. Read our history. We are a violent county. As long as we don't come to terms with our violent tendencies, nothing will change.

But we did take action- under-17's can't get into R rated movies, and video games have a content rating system now. Glad that worked!

@2

Your argument is dumb. Please join the real world.

Only twice in our 200 years as a continuous republic (in that definition, we are the oldest country in the world) we have had armed revolt against our government.

The first was at our birth, in the Revolution. The rebels had, basically, the same weapons that the government did (which would not be the case today -- good luck going up against tanks and Apaches with your AR-15 dipshit!). The only reason why the rebels won, contrary to public opinion, is because of the involvement of the French and the Spanish and the fact that Britain had more important issues to deal with in Europe.

The second revolt, our Civil War, wasn't even a bunch of individuals banding together rather a bunch of secessionist and treasonous state governments protecting their way of life (owning human beings for economic reasons) from a perceived threat of that institution dying. It didn't work out for the rebels, if you didn't know.

Also, besides the abolition of slavery, guns have had very little to do with most of America's progress. (I'm thinking of rights for women, LGBTs, the civil rights movements, Cesar Chavez, the New Deal, the reining of moneyed interests such as the railroads, etc etc).

In fact, the only time guns have been used have been in the hands of the oppressors, not in the hands of those oppressed. I'm thinking of the black civil rights movement, the destruction of Native tribes and the creation of the labor movement especially.

Oh, and no, the 2nd Amendment DOES NOT state that you are legally entitled to any weapon of your choosing. Gun control and sane weapons laws have always been a part of our history.

But again, good luck trying to take down an Apache with your AR-15 or your handgun. The revolt you describe would end quicker than the "Red Dawn" type of shitty movies you seem to enjoy.

@ 5, I'd probably add the Whiskey Rebellion to that list.

@6 President Washington put that one down quickly with nothing but a whimper. So much for a well armed populace!

Guns are not the problem. They need to be guided by a person to do damage.

Neglectful parents who (to their benefit) didn't learn how to model constructive and pro-social behavior for their children are a dangerous, growing phenomenon in our society.

Who's regulating/monitoring parenting skills? Because we become parents doesn't give us a "free ticket" from having mental health and interpersonal communication issues which need attention.

Metaphoric to a person who seeks to acquire a gun - a parent who is not "qualified" (has no "background check" or monitoring done for parenting/communication skills) is potentially very dangerous. Further, parents "wrap their hands around" a child, guide/"aim" their direction, and, ultimately, pull the trigger.

What we really need to give our attention to is not the gun, but who's behind the trigger?

@ 8, but what is more practical? Restricting gun sales, or creating a department of parents (as you seem to suggest)?

This puts Obama's statements last night in a rather pessimistic light. Maybe having double the death toll of Columbine, with the victims here being children half the age (or younger) of those in 1999 will be sufficient catalyst to actually change something this time.

@4: I can't tell if you're being facetious or not. In case you're serious:

The ratings system of the MPAA has been largely the same for decades, but became as it is today in 1990 - 9 years before Columbine.

The ESRB is run by the video game industry, and is their way of self-policing themselves. They do a pretty good job, and don't let Fox convince you otherwise. It was created 5 years before Columbine.

@14 actually ESRB is it's own can of worms, but he is right that violent video games took the spotlight after Columbine. It was the NRA's scapegoat then, just like it is now.

This time, let's not follow the shiny keys.