Answer: We denied our masculinity. We softened our spines. We delegated our responsibility to protect ourselves and families to agencies, some alphabetical, but most displaying badges.
Another time, another place, our Senators who sponsor disarmament(gun grabbing) legislation would have been run out of town on a rail. And a million Moms would have had more important things to do than crowd around a mall and bitch.
Our overseas adversaries would have had much more to fear from this era of Americans. And would have demonstrated it by showing more respect than they do today. We could change it, but I'm not so sure we have the collective spinal rigidity to get it done. Hypothetical: You're sitting in the livingroom and hear your kid screaming outside. Your neighbor is beating the crap out of him. Do you A) call 911, or B) grab the nearest baseball bat and pulverize the sonofab!tch!!?
If you chose B, then there is still hope.
Well, I would tell my wife as Im runing out the door to call 911 because that poor sonofab!thc is goning to need an ambulance.