We should all remind ourselves that these horrific assault rifle killings in schools are dramatic, but essentially a very small part of the problem.

The bulk of firearms deaths in the USA are the result of crime (organized and not), accidents, police shootings and suicides. The problem is not assault rifles, or mental health, bullying, the media, video games or drugs. It is guns. There are too many of them and they are too easy to get a hold of.

Until all guns are outlawed the killing will go on unabated. But even if all guns ARE outlawed, there will still be contraband guns, smuggled-in firearms, and plenty of illegal weapons squirreled away in people’s homes. The killing will go on for a long, long time. Smart legislation and enforcement may result in a sharp reduction of deaths, but the killing will continue.

America has a gun pathology, and it is widespread among the population. It is not going to go away overnight. This problem will not be solved due to any legal or political solution. We just have a fucked-up culture.