Canada has a less violent, more progressive social environment, a better educational and health system, reasonable gun laws etc because its citizens talk and act that way through their legislatures, Mike.

The country is not dysfunctional to the point it's currently paraded before the world. Our laws work for us, which is more than you can say for yours on the evidence of the schisms of your political parties reflecting how all Americans are fed up with them.

I don't feel encumbrances on my gun rights as you do on yours. I would protest taking assault rifles to a public meeting. I don't need to carry a gun for personal protection as so many Americans do. What you call strict I believe reasonable. We don't lock doors in the surrounding countryside, either.