Then there is the French and the Austrians, who actually took to the streets in protest. THEY have the guts, we have bluster.
My initial point is that Americans are still armed. No one has taken their guns away. Australians are defenseless in that respect.
Keep in mind even a docile rabbit when corned will finally bite and attack you to defend itself.
Americans can only be pushed so far.. as witnessed by the historical Civil War which caught this Country by surprise during that era of the 19th century.