Get it done. That was our attitude at the Massachusetts State House in the late 1990s.
I know there is no one easy answer to stopping the mass shootings like those committed by mentally ill young men in Arizona, Colorado, and most recently Connecticut. Certainly expanding mental health services is critical. But there are common-sense gun control policies like those adopted here in Massachusetts nearly 15 years ago which would make a huge difference. What it takes is the political will in Washington to get it done.
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Paul Cellucci shows himself to be a truly moderate, thoughtful Republican leader. Some will say it is because he no longer has political ambitions. It is a sad commentary that the simple notion of applying controls to instruments of death should require extraordinary political courage from those still fighting in the trenches. It would be tremendously helpful if Bill Weld added his rational voice to this debate.
Would not disagree that MA has tough gun laws, and as the author points out, gun violence is among the nations lowest. Anyone care to explain why the current governor seems to think these laws should be made even tougher? Doesn't that lend credence to gun owners arguments that the gun control issue is a slippery slope?
Of course, once the nation starts down the "gun control" path, it can then move on to the "disarmament" path, which was the goal of the anti gun folks all along. But let's not call it what it really is, at first, anyhow. We would not the citizens too well armed and excercising their 2nd ammendments rights, would we?
I see. Your position is that citizens with assault rifles are the only protectors of American democracy. Really? Is American democracy so fragile that only wingnuts with assault rifles can successfully deter its internal enemies. Would you have armed the mob at Little Rock High School in 1957? Is not this the kind of thinking that got Timothy McVey and his victims in Oklahoma City in a lot of trouble? I hope, at long last, that Republicans in the tradition of Eisenhower, who knew violence and bloodshed intimately, will assert themselves and take back their Party from this harmful fringe.
Nahant: I made no mention of assault rifles. We have an AWB in MA, in case you were not aware of it. Now the governor wants a 7 round mag limit, which does not address only "assault weapons", but many other weapons, including pistols that are commonly used for home/self defense. He also wants a "one gun per month purchase limit". What that does to stop a school shooting is beyond anyone's imagination. Gun owners are well aware that gun control advocates are making the most of the tragedy to further their agenda which has very little to do with protecting school children.
I was pointing out that gun owners view what happens with "gun control" laws in states like MA and NY, and can easily see the handwriting on the wall, the slippery slope.
The republicans in the tradition of Eisenhower would not have tolerated any of this "gun control" talk. You are kidding yourself.
Current federal law limits waterfowl hunters to 3 round magazines. Is it a statement of our values that we give ducks more ptotection than our children?
That sounded good. But would you care to tell that to the mother in Atlanta who just recently shot an intruder five times to protect herself and two children, after which he still managed to leave the home and drive away? What would have happened if there had been two or three intruders?
Of course, ducks never break into our homes, do they?
What would happen if there were 10 intruders? What would happen if the entire Bolivian Army surrounded her house? She used a gun in self-defense and it worked. Stop moving the goalposts.
HistoryisJustThat If she had taken an NRA marksmanship course 3 shots wouls have been enough. But let's do the math. +3 Atlants -12 Aurora _26 Newtown _32 Virginia Tech ______ -67
I could dig out the monthly NRA armed citizens defending themselves columns, list them all here and easily turn that into a positive number. Further, shooting at paper targets and real life defense situations are very different.
But back to the numbers, I would agree that they are horrible. Why can't we do something to really protect children? My stance is that all this "gun control" talk is nothing but political theater. CT had an AWB in place, it has licensing, etc. The tragedy still occured. What grinds me is that it appears no one is willing to PAY to protect children, rather, they would like to think that a law prohibiting something will do the trick, no effort or expenditure on their part.
The governor of NY had the audacity to refer to murder of the volunteer fireman several weeks ago as a justification for ramrodding through tougher gun laws. However, that murderer had been in prison, after murdering his own mother with a hammer. But the "system" decided to turn a known killer loose. But the governor would have the people of NY believe that a gun was the culprit, not the failed systems of the state.
I agree, we need to do more, but it should be real things, not things that look good to politicians in their quest for higher political office.
The culprit in NY WAS THE WOMAN WHO BOUGHT FOR A CONVICTED FELON.
Mass has an assault weapons ban? You couldn't tell by the ARs flying off the shelves of gun stores all over the State last week. Limit pistol mags to 7 rounds? For the good guys you mean right? So a suspect with a pistol with a high capacity magazine breaks into my house while I'm away and attacks my family. My wife grabs her pistol (after defeating the lock) with 7 rounds in the mag and one in the chamber tries to defend herself. NYPD publishes a report on officer involved shooting every year. It's called SOP 9. In it they have determined that even the most well trained officer will probably only hit the suspect with about 15% of his shots. My wife has 8 rounds to protect herself and my kids. She is well trained but the stats indicate she doesn't have a chance. 7 round mag, might as well throw the gun at the suspect.
Understood about your reference to an assault weapons ban. The problem is, with the media and a huge portion of the population not really knowing what a real assault weapon is, it has come to mean "any black rifle that holds a detachable magazine that is semi automatic with a pistol grip". Whereas a real assault weapon has the capability of full automatic fire. But it all plays good on TV, and sounds good coming out of the mouth of a politician.
I believe you can buy an AR-15 in Mass but only with a 10 round magazine and looks like soon to be a measley 7 if they don't ban the mean and nasty looking gun in the first place. Good luck finding one to buy however. Sales are booming.
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Common sense gun-control policies appear to have been successful in Mass.. It might be helpful to emphasize common sense and responsible gun ownership and use for the entire nation.
"Common sense" is your opinion. Gun laws in Mass make no sense at all.
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Cellucci is right this is a civil rights struggle he just has the sides confused. Gun control advocates are attacking the 2nd ammendment and those that oppose the gun control measures are defending their constitutional rights. That analogy might make alot of people uncomfortable but it fits.
@JLE: I read your comment below that suggested other methods in addition to gun control. I happened across this video from "The View", no, I do not watch it regularly, but it is very interesting and goes directly to the subject matter. Briefly, it is a segment with a Dr. Welner, Forensic Psychiartrist discussing what may have motivated Lanza. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU24i3Th27U
Even before seeing it, I was all for the Presidents idea about having the CDC study this phenomenon. I believe he mentioned that about $500M would be spent? Some might say that is waste of money, but if we all think about what one of these shootings actually costs, that number is peanuts, and tragedies are averted.
It just seems to me and a lot of other gun owners that short shrift is being given to additional solutions in favor of gun laws, that we feel do not address the problem.
Exactly. Everyone looks for an easy solution to latch onto, but there isn't one.
Congratulations to Governor Cellucci for speaking out o on this important issue. His experience lends encouragement to all citizens and elected officials who support his position.