14 killed in mass shooting at Batman screening

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Why do these things happen in the United States more frequently than in other countries?

Pace the advocates of gun control here, I actually do think that anyone in Europe sufficiently determined to commit an act like this can access the sufficient levels of explosives and firearms. Andres Brevik being a particularly prominent example. So I think the law and access to fire arms is a red herring here (though neither do I believe that greater access to firearms decreases crime like the gun advocates seem to claim, it is idea too silly to take seriously). More important to ask is why so many people in the United States seem to tie up the notion of gun ownership with that of individualism, an idea which is very alien to this European (living in a country where the police are not armed - this though is more common on the continental mainland - I could probably count using my fingers the amount of times I've actually seen in the flesh a firearm here). Answer that question and perhaps then we can move on beyond the tiredness of this debate. Not that I imagine that the conservatives are rather interested in answering this (why wonder about truths you hold to be self-evident even if others don't?)

Actually if you wanted me to sum up a personal 'position' (as if such a thing is necessarily desirable) on this situation is that owning a gun is like wanting to be president of the United States or a Millionaire property investor. Anyone should be allowed to own one, except for those that actually want to have one who should of course be banned by law from ever doing so.