Gary Varvel for February 19, 2018

And you still think having easy access to an assault rifle is just a small factor.

Why did you put a map of Trump’s brain in a cartoon labeled “A Killer’s Mind”… OH MY GOD!!!

Okkkaaaaaaayyyyyy. Now what?

How incredibly simplistic.

then give that guy easy access to guns

Guns are certainly part of the problem, and reasonable gun control is part of the solution. But there’s another problem. Why is it that so many Americans are gun crazy, and crazy with a gun? Up here in Canada we have a largely similar culture and society, and yet we don’t have anything near the problem with guns. There is no other developed society in the world that has this problem to this extent. What’s the reason? Please, my friends in the US, explain to me why US society is so violent? And why is it so important to so many in the US to have a gun? Why do so many place the right to own a gun, all kinds of guns, with no restrictions, above the safety of other citizens, including children?

Another factor I’d add is bullying. Seems many of these (young killers) were victims of it and ultimately they sought to even the score.

Gun sales have gone down since Trump got into office because the NRA and their minions could no longer sell the lie about “Obama is coming to take your guns”. Violence is likely to continue to increase – I agree with Vicente Fox’s statement on Bill Maher’s show that the vile garbage that Trump spews encourages others.

BOZHI, mass shootings have gone up because of the availability of rapid-fire weapons. If the CDC was allowed (and funded) to track gun violence like they used to then we could possibly see if there is a connection to SSRIs. Add a database to track guns rather than the archaic system used now. Have a database to block people with a history of violence from getting guns and implement the SSI mental health directive that Obama signed and Trump blocked.

Pray tell, just what would Varvel recommend as a solution to ‘mass shootings?’

You forget to mention he wore a MAGA hat and hated Muslims.

He was just doing what the Republican president said.

Perhaps he can get off of the murder charges on a Florida Stand Your Ground defense.

I heard the republicans in congress are not going to do anything, that is why they need to be voted out.

Lonecat, you asked about the difference between the US and Canada concerning gun deaths. I shall tell you. Canada and the US are as alike as any two countries on Earth but there are differences, primarily due to accidents of history. All comes down to memes, accepted ways of doing things.1.Both Canada and the US broke away from Mother Britain, but the US did it in colonial times where the only way to do so was with guns and violence. When Canada broke away, the Empire was collapsing and we were able to do so over the bargaining table, following the rule of law. And the die was cast.2.When Americans moved West, they were farmers who wanted the land and had to kill the Indigenous to get it. Canadians were fur traders and wanted them as allies. Don’t shoot your customers.3.In the US, farmers and ranchers went first, then frontier justice prevailed. Whoever had the most guns won. In Canada, the NWMP went first and law was established before the settlers. Rule of Law versus Rule of the Gun.4.When the American South wanted to secede, they picked up guns. When Quebec wanted to, they voted.5.Canada were farmers and had no need of slavery. Plantations needed slaves, the worst form of violence.6.The US valued rugged individualism, the One with a Gun versus the Canadian Social Contract with the group. We’re all in this together.7.The Puritan ethic of violently suppressing booze and drugs always results in more of same and violent reactions to suppression. 8.Leading to glorification of the law-breakers and making them folk heroes: Al Capone, John Gotti, Bonnie and Clyde, Jesse James. All guys with guns.

9.So when America has a problem, they declare war on it while Canada tries to help those with the problem. The War on Drugs versus helping those with a drug problem. A War on poverty versus helping the poor. A partial list: Wars on poverty, drugs, terrorism, crime, eating disorders, sexuality, youth violence; heck, W Bush actually declared war on gun violence. Cold Wars, punishing Cuba, containing China. Punishing lawbreakers versus rehabilitating them.

10.So, fear of Britain and losing their independence, fear of the Black Man, fear of the Indian, fear of the Communist, fear of the Muslim, fear of their own government, fear of the immigrant, fear of their women, fear of their children, fear of the criminal with a gun. And frightened people are dangerous people.

At least, that’s my opinion; I could be wrong.

Perhaps Republican Varvel should have used a MAGA cap in the cartoon. That’s what the Florida shooter enjoyed wearing.

You forgot the MAGA section.

Revere 1776 spouts far right fake stories cooked up by a far right conspiracy group—liveaction.org www.slate.com/blog/xx_factor/2015/07/15/live_action_distributed_the_planned_parenthood_sting_video_why_aren_t_they.html

www.plannedparenthood.org/files/7714/3741/4123/Letter_to_Chairman_Upton.pdf