US Gun Control Bill dies on voting floor

And good riddance I say.

WASHINGTON — With shouts of “Shame on you!” echoing in the chamber, the U.S. Senate failed to muster sufficient support Wednesday for a gun-buyer background check bill that’s supported by nearly 90 percent of Americans. (editor note: no, it’s not really 90%. More like 90% of Berkeley granola Birkenstockites asked in the poll who are already known to hate guns. Huff propaganda)

It also voted down other key measures and counterproposals, defeating a string of amendments in a series of procedural votes that likely doomed any major legislation to curb gun violence. (source: Huffington Post)

And of course the tired, overused us-versus-them media mantra will be recited: it’s the evil gun lobby, and the evil republicans, and the evil extreme-right.

Obama expressed his dismay:

“All in all, this is a pretty shameful day for Washington. The American people are trying to figure out — how can something that has 90 percent support not happen?”

What the American people are trying to figure out is why, when Congress has an 11% approval rating (ie: 90% disapproval rating) they are still breathing our air? Don’t throw stones in your glass house, man.

The “American People” obviously didn’t want this to go through, and their representatives were apparently too scared to counter that opinion. Even people like Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who voted against the bill, despite his impassioned Senate floor speech about how “I will vote for Dianne Feinstein’s assault weapons ban.”

Us vs. Them, my ass. Maybe Americans have seen enough of their rights taken away, and they are not interested in seeing more. Too bad they are not reclaiming the ones they have lost in the last few years. It’s also a shame that when 90% of the people are unhappy with the system, the system persists and is made stronger. Really, people, you are so much more aligned than you think. Stop listening to the media polar opinionmongering. If 90% of the population cooperated for 24 hours, you could wipe the slate clean. Think about that.

If you take away guns, we’ll use knives and bats. If you take away those, we’ll use our hands. If you take away those, we’ll use our stumps. You cannot legislate violence away, because it’s always going to be around.

The solution: arm up for defense, and don’t be an asshole.