In Japan guns are illegal (in almost all cases) and last year we had less than 100 gun deaths total. In a country with half the population of the US in the land area of California.
Last year in the US that number was over 30,000
Oh and we have tons and tons if violent video games and see those same American Hollywood violent films.
And we still live in a vibrant democracy with an amazing social safety net. No tyranny here.
Actually I feel more in a police state when I visit home than I ever do here in Japan. (Most Japanese police people's main job involves giving people directions and finding lost elderly people).
ETA: Holy crap Rec list? Are you serious? I wrote this on my iPhone while waiting for our car to get checked out, my phone battery died but i got it published just before it did so.
I came home, fired up my PC to see if I had any comments..and wow. Thanks guys!