It's easy to come across as condescending as a foreigner when you comment on America's gun problem. I understand that it is a country which was founded on gun ownership.
However, it's clear to me that the huge lobbying power of the NRA represents a real problem for America. The vast majority of Americans support increased background checks and the prohibition of semi automatic weapons, such as the one which caused such atrocities in a school in Florida recently.
The NRA ultimately succeed in pushing an agenda opposed by the majority of Americans by throwing money at politicians, Marco Rubio being the largest recipient.
The lives of Americans have to come first, but Congress is firmly under the control of whoever lines their pockets with legal bribery - lobbying. The NRA dominate earmarking processes when it comes to gun regulation, just as Wall Street essentially write in new financial regulations to suit them.
America's inability to pass sensible gun legislation, like so many other issues, is just a case of financial interests commanding so-called democratic representatives. It's a depressing mess caused by greedy old men.