Editorial on Gun Control

The information for this was taken from recent CBS news, LA TIMES,  and FOX NEWS articles. Below are links to read further more regarding the weapon ban

Gun control has been a controversial issue for years. Recently we have encountered the biggest fight over firearms since December's massacre at a Connecticut elementary school, in which Adam Lanza killed twenty children and six adults at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. Lanza also killed his mother, Nancy Lanza, and shot himself as police responded to the school. The shooting reignited a debate that has divided America, with Americans disputing the right to ban assault rifles or any weapons with similar caliber, versus gun supporters who fight for their constitutional rights the second Amendment upholds.

                              Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 14, 2012.

Senator Dianne Feinstein

Many say that if gun control were more strictly enforced it would quickly reduce the threat of crime. Senator Dianne Feinstein stated after shooting “ I remain horrified by the massacre committed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and I’m also incensed that our weak gun laws allow these mass killings to be carried out again and again and again,” on January 24, 2013 she proposed a plan to the Senate floor that will ban the sale, transfer, manufacturing and importation of 158 semi-automatic weapons with at least one military feature, and will also include fixed magazines that are capable of holding more than 10 rounds. The ban will prevent individuals to purchase certain weapons but I do not believe it will drop the rate of individuals dying due to gun violence. Certain drugs have been illegal for a long time, but there are many individuals who break the law and still purchase or smuggle drugs to United States.

 Senator Harry Reid  

 

There was a lot of disbelief the ban would do good because many already owned assault rifles. Gun supporters believed the ban of the assault weapons was never a good idea. Any one who is looking to kill using assault weapons can do so with any other guns that were not listed to ban. Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid a Democrat from Nevada stated “the most controversial proposal, an assault weapons ban, had been dropped to make the remaining legislation to win approval in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats but has plenty of gun rights supporters -- or lawmakers supported by gun-rights groups.” Further more he also stated “ there aren’t anywhere near the 51 votes for passage, much less the 60 needed to overcome an expected filibuster.”

 

Assault rifles often get the wrong impression with their appearance but rarely contribute in criminal activity. If assault weapons ban were enacted, it would not have had a major impact on America’s daily death toll from guns.The AR-15 is a rifle Feinstein’s proposed for the ban, only fires one round for each pull of the trigger. They are powerful, but fire smaller rounds compared to game hunting rifles that wouldn’t be affected by the assault weapons ban. Stricter laws should be enacted for individuals who purchase assault weapons. The background check should be more extensive, or maybe longer than ten days. The background should include mental illness from previous years or possibly include family members. Internet purchasing should possibly be denied for any guns and or ammunition.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/01/feinstein-proposes-assault-weapons-ban

/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/18/sandy-hook-gunman-reportedly-compiled-massive-spreadsheet-on-previous-killings/#ixzz2O7SAzI6H