In the immediate aftermath of the recent Florida school shooting, I read a statement by a fellow who was upset that his AR-15 assault rifle might be in danger of confiscation claiming that it was 'his favorite weapon for self defense'. Hopefully, he will soon need to reconsider his options as the casual acquisition of these deadly instruments of destruction are now under serious scrutiny. As for commonplace self defense...a 22 caliber hand gun or rifle will suffice when an appeal to local police and more peaceful efforts to eliminate an immediate threat have utterly failed.
The numerous gun owners, hunters, and recreational shooters I have known throughout the years have all subscribed to responsible and intelligent fire arm usage and ardently supported thorough background checks and a serious limit or outright ban on the sale of military grade assault weapons so ubiquitous in today's American society.
The militias referred to in the 2nd amendment have long since been replaced by a robust legion of domestic law enforcement. Possession of a AR-15 rifle is not inherently guaranteed by our constitution; to claim otherwise is a serious misinterpretation of phrase: 'the right to bear arms'. There is no need for the presence of an arsenal of military assault weapons among the citizenry in a civil society. Let's follow the lead of other major industrialized countries (Germany and Japan spring to mind) and take decisive action to enact thoughtful legislation to curb the widespread and indiscriminate proliferation of domestic armament. Although the NRA is loath to admit it, gun control and the preservation of responsible gun ownership more in line with the individual rights originally envision by the founding fathers are not incompatible concepts.
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