Las Vegas Lesson: None!

If you have been following the media coverage of the 58 people killed and hundreds more injured in the Las Vegas shooting, you may have heard that the gunman was using a ‘bump stock’ which can convert a long gun from semi-automatic firing and allow the weapon to fire continuously, some 400 to 800 rounds in a single minute.

Why would anyone be permitted to have such a contraption, other than the military, is beyond comprehension. The National Rifle Association, one of the most powerful lobby organizations in the United States, now says that “bump stocks” should be regulated. The NRA’s Wayne Lapierre was quick to add that ‘regulated’ did not include banning them. In other words, the term ‘regulated’ means nothing.

The United States has the largest total prison population in the world. There are more guns in the United States than people. Each year, many thousands die from guns. And yet, American politicians, more concerned about getting re-elected than reducing violence, pay only lip service to the ever-growing problem. What will it take to move them from the ignore posture? This is not a mild headache that will go away.

The proliferation of guns in the United States accompanied by the current political environment which seems to encourage conditions that brings out the worst in people, the future is less than promising. The silent majority needs to get off the snooze mode and stop the tail from wagging the dog. Their love of "In God We Trust" doesn't seem to be working too well.