To listen to the gun lobby, one would think that there’s only one right, the right to have as many guns, with whatever lethality and speed of fire, as can be invented and purchased. If a gun can be invented that would escape all detectors, NRA members would say everyone has a right to own that too.  If a gun could be invented that could kill 100 people at the same time, with one pull of the trigger, there’d be a right to own that too.  The answer to guns is always more guns.  Put armed guards around every school.  Put armed guards around every mall, every church and synagogue, every workplace, every public building.  Put concealed weapons into the hands of every neighborhood patroller.  Train everyone so that when they choose to shoot, they will hit and kill their targets.  When a tragedy occurs, it’s not the fault of the guns.  More guns would have meant less death, we’re told.

Come on, America.  Why does this mythical right outweigh everyone else’s right to live in a sane and safe society?  Why does it outweigh the right of a six-year-old child to live his or her life to its natural completion? 

Oh, they are so sorry when tragedy occurs.  It’s someone else’s fault, however.  Don’t look at them!  They didn’t pull the trigger, did they?