Relevant!

16 US Mass Shootings in 2012

Japan has the second lowest murder rate in the world! Thile the US had over 12,000 firearm-related homicides in 2008, Japan experienced only 11 and in 2006 an astounding 2. By comparison 587 Americans were killed in 2008 just by guns that had discharged accidentally.

"To get a gun in Japan, first, you have to attend an all-day class and pass a written test, which are held only once per month. You also must take and pass a shooting range class. Then, head over to a hospital for a mental test and drug test (Japan is unusual in that potential gun owners must affirmatively prove their mental fitness), which you'll file with the police. Finally, pass a rigorous background check for any criminal record or association with criminal or extremist groups, and you will be the proud new owner of your shotgun or air rifle. Just don't forget to provide police with documentation on the specific location of the gun in your home, as well as the ammo, both of which must be locked and stored separately. And remember to have the police inspect the gun once per year and to re-take the class and exam every three years."

"Japanese police receive more hours of training than their American counterparts, are forbidden from carrying off-duty, and invest hours in studying martial arts in part because they "are expected to use [firearms] in only the rarest of circumstances"

"American law is designed to enshrine access to guns, while Japan starts with the premise of forbidding it"

"Though it's worth considering another police state here: Tunisia, which had the lowest firearm ownership rate in the world (1 gun per 1000 citizens, compared to America's 890) when its people toppled a brutal, 24-year dictatorship and sparked the Arab Spring."

Above parts were taken out and highlighted by me from The Atlantic.

"In 2010, there were more than 30,000 deaths caused by firearms when the number of homicides, suicides and accidental deaths are tallied." - CNN

Juan Cole in Truthdig asks some pertinent powerful questions like:

- Why doesn’t anyone blame George W. Bush for these mass shootings? He’s the one who led the charge to let the assault weapons ban expire.

- Why aren’t the politicians in Congress who take campaign money from assault weapons manufacturers ever held accountable by the public?

-  A relatively small number of corporations produce and market semiautomatic weapons for the civilian market. Why aren’t they named and shamed?

- Juan Cole states that firearms are used in 300,000 crimes a year in the U.S.

We can not afford to sit on the sidelines any longer. Demand change, act, contact:

National Rifle Association: 1-800-672-3888
Speaker of the House, John Boehner: 1 (202) 225-0600
Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid: 
1-866-SEN-REID (736-7343)

The White House Comment Line: 1-202-456-1111


Join a Gun Control Group :
*Brady Campaign bradycampaign.org
*Coalition to Stop Gun Violence csgv.org/index.php
*Violence Policy Center vpc.org/index.htm

Sign petitions on SignOn.org and another and tell the NRA Enough!

Finally there is a lovely suggestion of committing to acts of kindness for every child that perished in this recent senseless act of violence, which of course can be extended to include the adults, the heroic teachers and please, let's not forget all the children and all the victims  of US drone attacks!