Explain to those parents why the NRA is more important than safe neighborhoods. Explain to them how the culture of violence of the USA can no longer be tolerated. Explain to those parents how much everyone, every legislator in this country is concerned for their happiness. Go, ahead, explain that to them now.
In part by forbidding almost all forms of firearm ownership, Japan has as few as two gun-related homicides a year.
JUL 23 2012, 1:45 PM ET
...But what about the country (click here) at the other end of the spectrum? What is the role of guns in Japan, the developed world's least firearm-filled nation and perhaps its strictest controller? In 2008, the U.S. had over 12 thousand firearm-related homicides. All of Japan experienced only 11, fewer than were killed at the Aurora shooting alone. And that was a big year: 2006 saw an astounding two, and when that number jumped to 22 in 2007, it became a national scandal. By comparison, also in 2008, 587 Americans were killed just by guns that had discharged accidentally.
Almost no one in Japan owns a gun. Most kinds are illegal, with onerous restrictions on buying and maintaining the few that are allowed. Even the country's infamous, mafia-like Yakuza tend to forgoguns; the few exceptions tend to become big national news stories....
