Radical Islamic terrorist groups openly advertise America’s lax gun laws to encourage those who want to carry out attacks here. But Republicans in Congress have blocked that path, too, repeatedly barring federal funding into research on gun violence, because they are afraid of what it will show. Meanwhile, the same lawmakers complain that Mr. Obama has not taken the danger of ISIS and other radical Islamic groups seriously enough. Before the slaughter in Orlando, 95 percent of the deaths resulting from domestic terrorist attacks since Sept. 11 were inflicted by guns, according to a 2015 analysis. But as long as lawmakers refuse to take even the most basic steps, a new city will inevitably claim that gruesome mantle.

Source: New York Times June 14, 2016 00:45 UTC