There is something quite alluring about the zeal of so-called Second Amendment enthusiasts. They are noble defenders of the peace, quietly enforcing politeness and rectitude through the unspoken threat of mortal violence if person or property are violated. They might even claim to be capable of repelling government overstep, as if their pea-shooters could stymie the order of a drone-strike. They claim that weapons of war are a citizen's birthright. Maybe they should investigate getting a hellfire missile permit.

Look, I think hunting rifles are fine. I think shotguns are fine. Hell, I even think it's not the end of the world if people have revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. The latter are very, very dangerous, and the stats show that they are most likely to be used for the purpose of self-termination (which I find sad, but hey, that's the individual's choice). But high-powered assault weapons with large magazines that were designed explicitly for killing large amounts of people in a short amount of time?

I wish y'all would just join those well-regulated militias if you love the second amendment so much. Who are you benefiting, if not the gun manufacturers? I know you won't believe me, but believe me: a heavily armed society only leads to more needless death. It doesn't prevent it. Their thinking belies a typically American fantasy that they don't live in a civilized society. We still believe in cowboys, even though for the vast majority of the population, the reality is that we live in cities that are absolutely governed by the rule of law.