Just last week, I wrote a blog post about gun control. I was struck by the immediate response to Obama's election from my Republicans acquaintances on Facebook. They weren't concerned about social issues or his approach to the economy. They were most concerned about their guns. "They're going to take my guns!" Their right to hunt was their primary worry. They posted pictures about guns, including the one that I used in that blog post. 

I remember reading an article about the 1994 election where a huge freshman class of Republicans entered Congress. Polling showed that these Republicans were elected not because Clinton's approach to the economy or social issues, but because he had proposed a gun control law. 

Guns, the real third rail in American politics. 

As I've said before, I don't understand guns. I try to understand them, but I don't. I've never shot a pistol or even touched one. I don't know people who have them. Sorry, but I hang out with a bunch of urban, brie-eaters. 

However, I do understand that other people really like them. I also understand that there are 300 million guns in this country. Even if it were politically possible to pass gun control legislation, those 300 million guns aren't going anywhere. They would just be sold on the black market. 

I can't think of how one could possibly pass meaningful gun control laws, even though I would 100% support a plan.