This explains so much. In The Gun Debate Is a Culture Debate Trevor Burrus explains that the anti-gun groups are powered more by emotional disgust than by common sense.
Excerpt:
One cultural tradition believes government is a necessary evil, best kept small, contained, and subordinate to the people.
The other tradition views government as a force for good that can often do better with fewer restraints.
One tradition views private gun ownership as important for resisting tyranny; the other views guns as, at best, a necessary evil, and at worst, something we should discard to become a fully civilized society. ...
Gun disgust is also one of the primary reasons gun-control advocates promote laws that have little to no effect on reducing gun violence. On many questions, the debate over the effects of gun-control laws on crime is surprisingly uncontroversial.
But it's very difficult to acquiesce to views of people one holds in disgust. This explains so much. Republicans, libertarians, and fiscal conservatives in general have felt the power of this disgust for quite some time. Too bad so many Democrats lack the ability to tolerate opposing ideas.
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