This letter is in response to the articles covering the shooting tragedy in Arizona.
The second amendment of the United States Constitution states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Obviously the need for a state militia has been replaced by the National Guard and Coast Guard whereby trained military personnel are entrusted with the defense of this country against domestic enemies. Their weapons are tightly controlled and safeguarded. The only two reasons for a citizen to own a firearm are for hunting or defense of the household from intruders. In either case, ownership of a handgun, shotgun or rifle is more than adequate to satisfy these purposes.
There is absolutely no need for any U.S. civilian to own any weapon more powerful or sophisticated than these. Accordingly, all handguns, shotguns and rifles must be licensed and registered to the degree necessary to match weapon to owner at the click of a computer key. Furthermore, if we had prohibited the purchase of more sophisticated weapons (i.e. a Glock 19 semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine), several innocent victims would not have died or been harmed during this tragedy as well as in shopping malls and on college campuses. The shooter is obviously disturbed by mental illness to which it appears that those defending the right to own sophisticated weapons exhibit the same qualities by showing a callous disregard for the safety and protection of their fellow citizens. Mental illness and guns are as bad a combination as alcohol and driving.
Evidently we have the money to fight two wars overseas but not the political will to treat the mentally ill who are not only a danger to themselves but to everyone else as well.
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Citizens don’t need semiautomatic weapons beyond hunting, defense
Daily Emerald
January 19, 2011
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