The greatest visualization of the toll of gun violence in America was created by the studio Periscopic in 2010. It depicted the 400,000 years of life lost to gun violence in America, and it's absolutely chilling. The second greatest may have been published today by the New York Times. Instead of charting life and death in complex graphics, it paints a picture in words–listing the steps it takes to buy a gun in the U.S. versus other countries across the world.In the U.S., it's two steps.

1. Pass an instant background check that includes criminal convictions, domestic violence and immigration status.

2. Buy a gun.

For comparison, in Japan, it's thirteen.

1. Join a hunting or shooting club. 2. Take a firearm class and pass a written exam, which is held up to three times a year. 3. Get a doctor's note saying you are mentally fit and do not have a history of drug abuse. 4. Apply for a permit to take firing training, which may take up to a month. 5. Describe in a police interview why you need a gun.