As I watch the various gun control stories on television news or internet video, I see a few common threads. There are those that view firearms as a problem and those that do not and a mix in between. The ones with a problem want something to change...anything. The ones that do not have a problem want nothing to change and maybe even hope to recover some previously lost ground. The mix in between is the worst as they will accept change by compromise.
At state levels, law-makers are looking at draconian measure singling out "semi-automatic", "high capacity" or "assault weapons". Federal level law is threatening executive order and is sure to settle to any compromise where we lose.
Obviously individual action is required. A peaceful and stick-to-your-convictions action will have the greater result. Action. Write the lawmakers....as many as you can. Talk with friends, neighbors and family (careful..as many don't share your enthusiasm and bore easily...I may be boring some of you right now). Educate people you spot in media that don't have answers. I have observed many pro-gun advocates that vehemently stand on the 2nd A but fail to speak to issues. Proponents that yell, froth and fume over rights appear somewhat less than social (and even dissapointing at times). Opponents can't relate to Constitutional right when they view the banning of certain weapons, magazine capacity, background checks for all firearm sales and improved mental health care as solutions to the killing of innocent lives. These opponents don't see a few changes having any impact on a right they don't care to exercise. There is also a sense of taking away power from others.
A ban on "assault weapons". Scare words for what they really mean...An AR-15 rifle. However, much more would be impacted by writting law as law-makers broadly sweep similar apearring, functioning or related ammunition. Media and politicians constantly say that no body needs an AR-15 rifle. Yes we do need the AR-15 or any other firearm we choose. The AR-15 is a very reasonable defensive firearm and has effective function for home or any other personal defense. We should not be deprived of certain firearm or types of arms that reduce our defense of ourselves and others. A defensive firearm should not be limited in round capacity since there is no way to determine how many rounds are required to obtain survival or escape from other violence. How can law makers determine that 10 rounds is enough and after that your rights just ran out?
Background checks are just another legal foot in the door to more control, confusion and red tape. Cost to everyone will increase and most likely result in something unable to reduce criminal gun use. What we enjoy as a right to buy and sell our personal property will be taken away and replaced with paperwork and fees. This is a item that could easily be accepted as a compromise and one we should fight.
Registration does not prevent crime. Cities have paid millions on registration process that never provided anything to solution of a single crime. Another money eating process with suffering for all involved. Ultimately could be used by government to confiscate all firearms in a take over of power. Another item that could compromise in to place and we have to fight.
Let them work on mental health related to crime...hopefully without stepping on the rights of innocent people. I don't have the confidence that our government can approach something this complex, but it appears to be the root cause of recent events. Troubled individuals need to be separated from those they wish to harm.
Recent ews polling is showing a higher percent of people interested in imposing some kind of additional gun control than people that do not want added controls. Although statistics can be and are manipulated, it still indicates a need to tip the scales with our effort.
