They could have gathered to demand better enforcement of VA laws banning gun sales to the mentally ill. They could have demanded better tracking of mentally disturbed VT students. They could have expressed their concern about lax enforcement of existing gun laws, and supported the teachers whose red flags about the shooter were ignored by the VT administration.
Instead, VA gun owners were shown on national television holding a rally to defy NY Mayor Bloomberg's ridiculous gun control proposals. They made a point of showing their firearms, and raffled off, among other things, a handgun, while the mother of one of the murdered students demonstrated outside. Talk about a made-for-anti-gun-media exhibition!
No, gun owners shouldn't duck our heads and accept blame for the act of a lunatic. But we could and should show greater awareness of public opinion, and do a better job of presenting our case. Honest concern and constructive action could have helped. Belligerent defiance doesn't.
