The Gun Controversy

Copying our friends at CIB with pictures, because law school does not provide enough of an artistic outlet.

So it has come to my attention that Europeans are scared to death of guns.* Not in the "there's a gun in my face, I'm scared of it" (who wouldn't be?) kind of way, but rather, they are scared of the idea of guns.

Two of my flatmates are fellow Americans. At their orientation, an English professor told them that when Europeans hear that we own and carry guns at home, in their minds, that translates to "I am a psycho." I have also noticed recently when discussing the prevalent fear of guns here, my non-American flatmates tend to get very quiet and not make any sudden moves. Like at any moment we might pull one out that we hid in our baggage.

One of my other European friends (who shall remain nameless) has said that they heard rumors that kids in America carry around guns as large as their bodies. Now, I would like to know.... are these grenade launchers? Civil War era canons?

Where do these rumors get started? And how are we supposed to let the world know that we are not psychos without a good gun joke, which in essence only furthers the problem?

* Sidenote: This is a huge overgeneralization, which generally (ha) I do not like. But it makes blogging much easier and more entertaining.