Much has been made of recent efforts to address the gun control issue, in the wake of the shootings of school children in Newtown, Ct.  While the media plays up the controversy, and various pundits go through the motions of bringing various pro/anti gun advocates on their programs, we find that the entire process is an elaborate illusion designed to make people believe that something serious is afoot.

Of course, that's the beauty of illusions.  You can imagine that people are actually serious, while you miss the sleight of hand that ensures that nothing actually gets done.

Pro-gun advocates would have you believe that they are concerned about having their rights curbed, about having the 2nd amendment eviscerated, and about gun bans or even collection from private owners.  The spectre of government is perpetually invoked as if these individuals represent the last vestiges of patriotism in a country run amok.

Anti-gun advocates suggest that putting bans on weapons or passing more laws will somehow make us safe.

It's time to call bullshit and talk about what's really going on.

Let's be clear regarding the 2nd amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

OK, so any attempt to remove guns from private ownership is off the table.  Without a change to the constitution, it is clear that the original framers intended to protect this right.  While many will try to parse the meaning of this clause, let's leave it be and simply use the simplest interpretation.

However, what's really happening?  

There is nothing in this amendment that protects gun dealers.  There is nothing in this amendment that prohibits the government from regulating sales, or accounting for inventory, or controlling commerce involving guns.  There isn't even a prohibition against the government tracking such weapons.  The only guaranteed protection is that citizens can possess them.

Yet, we find that Congress and the NRA have essentially undercut the ability to provide any meaningful law enforcement, by gutting the essence of the ATF [Alocohol, Tobacco, and Firearms].  While the ATF has also been subject to recent scandals [The Fast and Furious debacle], the actions taken by Congress are unfathomable.

The ATF has not had a director in six years.  Congress changed that position from being a presidential appointment to one that requires congressional approval, and they have not seen fit to approve anyone that either Pres. George W. Bush or Pres. Obama have nominated.

Similarly, the ATF has no authority to compile data [transaction registry] or inspect inventory discrepancies of gun dealers.  In addition, the ATF is understaffed, and certainly incapable of even mounting inspections of dealers if it chose to do so.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/01/17/who-is-b-todd-jones-and-what-does-the-atf-do-anyway.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obamas-nomination-of-atf-director-signals-battle-to-strengthen-agency/2013/01/16/a272d4f2-6020-11e2-9940-6fc488f3fecd_story.html

For those that can only deal with this fiasco in a more humorous manner.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/17/1179688/-Must-see-Jon-Stewart-exposes-how-the-NRA-GOP-PREVENT-the-ATF-from-enforcing-current-gun-laws

So, I guess we can rest assured that despite all the rhetoric and drama, nothing will get done.  After all, what is more important; Citizen safety, or an individual having fun.

“A lot of them, it’s just kind of fun to go out and shoot,” said Meyer. His store sold out of the 150 AR-style weapons it had in stock within three days of the shooting in Newtown. “And then also the high-capacity magazine, that’s fun to have.”
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/16/16544310-why-gun-groups-say-no-way-to-assault-weapons-ban?lite

You betcha!