Not "America"

Sorry, Jeb!, it's a stirring Tweet (https://twitter.com/JebBush/status/699706718419345408), but, no … "America" is not owning a gun.

Only a quarter of Americans own guns; significantly fewer than half of American households have one.[1] Sure, the household rate creeps over a half in the South (and it is South Carolina Season), but that's about it regionally. White men seem to be the preponderance of that (is that your target audience, Jeb! ?). Yes, the number of guns continues to climb steadily in the country — but that seems to be a matter of individuals who already own one buying more (maybe that's the way guns reflect America).

So what's the message here, Jeb! ? That Americans are frightened of criminals and terrorists? That Americans are ready to hold off government goons with pistols? That Americans don't feel comfortable if they can't kill someone from a distance? That Americans only respect someone who's packing? That manly men own guns, and since you own one you are a manly man? That you love your gun so much you had your name (and former office) engraved on it? That if you become President you'll be as rootin-shootin as your brother was?

Ever wonder how that looks to the rest of the world?

Or maybe you're just not getting any traction with the GOP voters, and figure an appeal to guns can't hurt.

What does your message mean, Jeb! ?

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[1] The numbers aren't easy to glean, since they are all self-reporting. I've seen a few that indicate the proportion of gun owners might be higher, but most show a decline over the last thirty years or so.

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