Are we ever going to get tired enough of school shootings that we actually do something about them?

[laundry_queen]

90. I agree that it's not JUST the guns

although it is significantly more difficult to get guns here in Canada (even my SIL who is a cop had several steps to go through before she could buy her personal handgun), you can still get them. I've lived in small towns where kids go hunting with their parents, own their own guns, etc. I do think a big difference is we have laws on how you can transport guns, and you can't just carry a gun around. But another big difference is we don't have a 'gun culture'. We don't see owning guns as a RIGHT, we see it as a privilege.

Also, culturally you are right, there are major differences. Even our history here in Canada plays into it - in school we are taught to be proud of our non-violent history, how we became a country without having to fight a war, how we have never had a civil war, how we are (well, we were before Harper) seen as peacekeepers around the world etc. The US, with a violent history, is just more likely to be violent because of 'violence begets violence'. There is a lot of teaching about multiculturalism in Canada, about inclusiveness. And we have a strong social safety net. IMO, just having health care for every person makes a person feel like part of something larger, that their life does matter to the government and others. The US is more like 'every man for himself' while in Canada we have this 'we are all in this together' feeling.

I think American exceptionalism plays into it too. People in the US expect a certain type of life simply because they are American. That they DESERVE happiness (even at the expense of others). Canadian culture is more about a collective happiness. I think it might be as simple as "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" versus "peace, order and good government."

Anyway. Those are my thoughts on the issue. I still think access to guns plays a significant role, but no doubt culture has a heavy influence on school shootings as well.