I love that idea, Marianne. 🙂 It would be hard to carry a musket around in a purse.

Growing up around guns didn’t feel weird to me either. I think when we’re around people who hunt, we don’t think as much about it. I think you hit the nail on the head when you mention “better regulations.” It’s not that all the guns should disappear; we just need closer scrutiny on who/what/how available they are, just like we have regulations on who can drive a car, etc. You’re right that bad guys can get guns if they really want to. I hope one day we can make it harder to do than it currently is. Thanks, Kirstin!

Yes, the topic of guns does bring out high emotions for so many of us; I am that way too. I need to read more about the history and legality of the second amendment myself. The book How to Talk About Guns does address it some, along with many other things. It was a very helpful resource to me and I hope it will be for you too. Thanks for sharing here, Molly!

I appreciate your encouraging support, Rowena. It’s positive to see that other countries can and DO make changes that work regarding gun safety! I don’t know how many more people will have to die in America before real change can finally come. 🙁 Thanks for including the link to the article about Australia’s gun laws. I look forward to reading it!

Thanks, Karen. I had more books I could have added to this category, but I assumed five was enough on this topic for most folks. 🙂

Wow, it’s amazing how different cultures can be. I’m glad that England has better laws. I wish this topic was more alien to me, too. I’m encouraged by your experience that it IS possible to live without so many people having guns on them.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this important topic, Leslie. I’m adding When Thoughts and Prayers Aren’t Enough to my tbr list right now. Good for you in joining Moms Demand Action. I participate too in the local group where I live in Alabama. I think Texas and Alabama have a lot in common regarding our gun cultures, unfortunately. The advice given to your daughter was so dangerous. Sigh.

Oh, I am so sorry that happened to your friend, Janet. 🙁 You’re exactly right that firearms can do SO much damage, and often permanent and/or fatal, from a brief explosion of emotion. I don’t promote violence of any kind, but at least fist fights were a lot less lethal back in the day before everyone carried a gun.

Thank you for your encouragement, Debbie. America’s legislature could learn so much from how Australia has worked to solve the gun problem. Yet we keep clinging to our fallacies that more and more people need guns instead of less and less…