From the cause and effect department --

• Citing the Virginia Tech shootings, the governor of Virginia is proposing a law to require background checks of gun buyers at gun shows, which would not have affected the Virginia Tech shooter because he didn't buy his guns at a gun show.
• Defending its voter I.D. law before the U.S. Supreme Court, the state of Indiana -- unable to document a single case of in-person voter fraud -- cited cases of absentee voting fraud, which would not be prevented by the voter I.D. law.

What do these laws have in common? They're like pissing in a dark suit. They give you a warm feeling while having no visible effect.