Ordinary people don’t need semi-automatic, magazine-fed weapons, whether to hunt or for self-defense.
Notice that the Second Amendment refers to the right to bear arms, not guns, and the federal government has a long history of regulating all types of arms without challenge — and certainly no rational person would argue that people have a right to own tanks or nuclear missiles.
There’s not much more you need to say to justify strict controls on guns — but of course that wouldn’t be the end of the story. There are of course hundreds of millions of guns in circulation in the US today, and many are the kind that should not be in the hands of civilians. The sad truth is, no enforceable law that passed today would end gun violence tomorrow. It will take generations for Americans to mature sufficiently to give up the guns they don’t need for hunting and self-defense.
It is, incidentally, tragic that so many Senators will oppose the simple bill to require background check today, and I have a feeling we’ll see some of both parties lose their seats because of this opposition next time they’re up for reelection. It’s unfortunate, however, that we may lose a few Democratic Senators in the process — but it’s clear the NRA must be neutered.
Liberal Buzz 