Ban assault weapons, then keep going
Yael T. AbouhalkahAmericans who want sane gun control need to use the Newtown tragedy to make sure the sale of assault weapons is banned forever.
And then this nation needs to keep going, putting the screws to the gun lobby and making sure that it never controls Congress again when it comes to gun laws.
I am disappointed President Barack Obama didn’t clearly say that in his emotional speech Sunday in Newtown.
Mr. President, 20 children died Friday in a hail of bullets at Sandy Hook Elementary Schools. That should be enough to overcome the idiocy of the gun nuts and the pablum they spread about needing even more guns polluting this country.
The NRA can scream all it wants about the 2nd Amendment. Yet no one’s talking about ripping all guns out of the hands of Americans. People will still have enough guns to protect themselves - their absurdly stated reason for wanting guns.
But, yes, we do need to rip certain guns out of their hands, as Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Sunday.
Obama can lead on this issue - or he can speak brave words like he did Sunday and then step aside.
Mr. President, don’t step aside.
George Hunsucker
Northland
6 months agoLuckily we have a 2nd amemdment to stop you libs’ nonsense yt….
Let’s disarm the public so criminals and government can run-over them….
Sounds like a good lib plan to me…..
Max Jacobsen
6 months agoWhat a great idea!
Lets make assault rifles illegal to take them off the streets, and keep them out of the hands of criminals!
While we are at it, we should make meth, heroin, and cocaine illegal too!!
-_-
Mark Hastert
6 months agoWe need to put an end to the worship of deadly weapons. Stop referring to it in lofty patriotic terms like “right to bear arms” and call it what it really is, “right to bear deadly weapons”.
It’s a constitutional right unlike all others because it is potentially deadly and thus, should have special responsibilities. Rights aren’t unconditional. We can’t yell fire in a crowded theater thus restricting our tight to free speech. Freedom of assembly is conditional. The SCOTUS specifically left the door open for restrictions and it’s time to act.
Steven Fetter
66223
6 months agoGreat point Mr. Jacobsen. The crime syndicates are salivating at the opportunity to set up a distribution system to trade in any banned guns.
It may make you feel better to ban guns, or drugs, or alcohol, or illegal immigration, but we will have to deal with these problems regardless.
How about a tax on weapons and ammunition that will fund mental health programs and institutions for the people unable to function in our society?
Robert L Rogers
6 months agoAs if guns are the problem…. Look at the nut in China. Granted he didn’t kill anyone but he certainly could have. So lets ban knives…. Rocks…. Bats… Our hands. Anything that in the wrong PERSONS hands could be used to injure or kill someone.
William R. Nelson
6 months agoMass Murder Facts Since 1999
Mark Robertson
6 months agoWhat the libs really hate is the great U.S. Constitution. Using a tragedy to go after guns and the 2 Amendment is just a step in their overall goal of bringing down, or at least massively changing the Constitution. They incorrectly think that the U.S. Constitution is a “living, breathing” document. What continues to be amazing about the libs is how they groupthink. Conservatives have very strong views and even sometimes disagree with each other. It seems though that the libs nearly always march in lockstep. Why is that? Could it be that it is not about defending their “beliefs” but about universally hating conservative principles. Thank you. Mark Robertson Independence.
Mark Hastert
6 months ago“What the libs really hate is the great U.S. Constitution.”
What you’re going to find out is that the right to bear deadly fire arms isn’t absolute and never has been. The SCOTUS has already said so. Now we’ll look for a constitutional means to do so.
We have to change the way we worship guns more than God. I think Steven may be on to something. We ought to tax the sale of guns and ammo and use it for mental health care to keep guns out of the hands of the insane.
As far as “group think” Mr Robertson you are parroting all the same talking points that every other NRA shill is saying today. Contrary to what you might think, I don’t want to take your (or my) guns away. I want them made safe for others. I’ll admit. however, I have no tolerance for mindless extremists…
Daniel Dooley
6 months agoHere’s the thing. You can’t argue with the people who won’t even consider restrictions on guns — the people who just throw out the 2nd Amendment and say “don’t touch our guns.” It’s like trying to argue with a six-year old whose toy you have to take away. They don’t have a logical argument for why society needs semi-automatic weapons and handguns or long guns with magazines that hold 15 or 20 (or more rounds). They always fall back on the Constitution because the only other argument they have is that of a six-year old: “But I really like my toy. I don’t want you to take it away.” That’s what guns are to them; a toy. Something fun that they enjoy. A hobby. Something to collect and play with. But there is no reasoned argument for keeping such firearms legal:
The Constitution does not allow individuals complete freedom to bear any weapon. Virtually no one will argue that the right is unlimited. The line CAN be drawn somewhere.
There is no need for any firearm that does not have to be re-loaded after firing six rounds. Hunters don’t need it. You don’t need one for self protection. If you miss after six rounds, the bad guy already got you anyway.
That leaves sport. The folks who like to go to gun ranges and fire off round after round after round. But that’s not a necessity. That’s just a child with a toy. The difference is that it’s a deadly toy.
So … we should make any semi-automatic firearms illegal. We should make any firearm that holds more than six rounds illegal. I realize doing so won’t immediately solve our problems. The bad guys will still have heavy weaponry. Mentally deranged people will still have access if they really want it. But we have to start somewhere. We have to start making it so easy to do what the Newtown shooter did.