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Originally Posted by edslunch
But they are related. Guns are treated as dangerous things in Canada and most Canadians think guns are dangerous. These reinforce each other. If guns were freely available they would become more mainstream and accepted. Changing laws won't change attitudes over night but will over time.
Seat belt and car seat and helmet and smoking laws were a pain in the butt when introduced but now who doesn't do it?
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Yeah, but the US has a 200 year history of glorification of guns and violence; it's a fundamental part of their culture from the American Revolution, to the Wild West, to their violent westward expansion, and that militia ethos still exists in a large subculture. A large part of American society views guns as an integral part of their culture.
Not that laws shouldn't be changed to reduce access, but it's a much bigger battle than something like seatbelts or smoking. Even after events like these, you're still going to have millions of Americans who see any reduction in their ability to buy whatever gun they want with little restriction as an affront to their human rights.