Since 2012, the year of the Sandy Hook massacre, the United States has averaged nine mass shootings (defined as four or more people shot, not including the shooter) for every 10 days. In other words, mass shootings are now the norm, not the exception.
Unsurprisingly, Americans have more guns than any other people in the world, with 112.6 guns for every 100 Americans. Serbia, the country with the second-highest number of guns, has 75.6 guns per 100 people. This is because buying guns in the US extremely easy: Only a handful of state require some kind of certification to purchase a gun, and even limitations on carrying it around, openly or concealed, are rather limited.
Here are a few products that are subject to more restrictive US laws than guns (at least on paper).
Chocolate Kinder eggs
Or any other kind of confectionery containing toys, thanks to a 1938 law promoted by Mars to stop its competitor Kinder from entering the US market. The law describes toys hidden inside of food as dangerous to children.
Milk
Unpasteurized milk cannot be sold across state lines. Twenty US states ban the sale of raw milk altogether.
Bingo games
In some states, bingo games are banned at a certain hour of the day; in others, they can’t last longer than five hours.
Ice cream cones
Several states prohibit carrying ice cream cones in your back pocket on Sunday.
Children’s books
Children’s books printed before 1985 are not considered safe for sale in the US. There is a public list of children’s books that have been challenged or banned.
Elevator buttons
The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates a series of requirements that include the size of elevator buttons, and their timed functioning.
Dildos
Owning more than six is illegal in Texas.
Oral sex
In 13 states, oral sex is illegal and can be punished with anywhere between 60 days and life (in Idaho).
Goatees
Louisiana men wanting to wear a goatee need to seek permission from the state.
Sundays
Various states have strict rules about what can be bought, sold, and done on Sunday, although not all are enforced. Limitations apply to corn flakes in Ohio, alcohol in Connecticut, cars in Illinois, merry-go-rounds in Idaho, professional croquet (before 6 pm) in Maryland, hamburgers in Minnesota, and playing cards (and other games) in Alabama.