The inauguration is over and it’s official – Obama
is sworn in. We must wait four years before a presidential
change is made. Discussions regarding many topics, looking
at pros and cons will be held and decisions will need to be
made. I hope we can move ahead with progress on matters untouchable
until this time.
The
president’s speech pointed out many of his goals
and there will be many more as his term moves along. House
and Senate members must admit little progress was made the
past four years. Items presented to Congress seemed to divide
and increase the partisanship. Constant bickering among the
parties prevented bills from being passed.
I
remain an independent and it’s my belief school kids
could get more accomplished than our current Congress.
Unfortunately, it appears our representatives will be starting
up right
where they left off prior to the election. As I see it,
we have two
years to put up with the same Congress just elected and
it will be a major setback for our country if the parties
fail
to work together to pass legislation. If the bickering
continues unabated, our two-party system may be in serious
jeopardy.
The gun control issue will be high on the list of topics that
will create disorder between the parties. It is very important
and will create problems on both sides of the aisle.
Many elected officials owe allegiance to the NRA because of
contributions made to their election pursuits.
Questions arise on both sides of the issue as opposing groups
line up and try to push their views ahead. Taking away the
right to buy or own weapons of mass destruction is presented
as a threat of our rights to bear arms under the Second Amendment
of the Constitution. We need to remember, however, at the time
the amendment was written, flintlock muskets were the guns
in use. Consider this, by the time a person could reload a
musket after the first shot; those being threatened nearby
would have time to run to cover. With the use of a semi-automatic
weapon, a person can empty an entire high volume clip during
that same amount of time. Some clips using hollow-point ammunition
can shoot enough shots to drop an elephant.
Seriously, who shoots that type of game in our country?
I would like to see a buy-back on the high capacity cartridges
because there is no need for them.
On the other side of the issue, outlawing the high capacity
guns now is too late because there are so many already in the
hands of collectors. Limiting the availability of the 30-round
ammunition clips would seem more reasonable.
I
talked to the owner of one of the semi-automatic guns and
asked why would anyone want to own one?
The response
was, “Because
I can – and I like to take it to the
range and fire it.”
Gun
control will be a contentious subject for much of the remainder
of Obama’s second
term. Perhaps if the NRA representatives
would try to
work with
our voted
representatives,
something
could be accomplished to insure the safety
of our children. The NRA should approach
its members,
who are also parents
of young, innocent children. Ask those members
who have lost
loved
ones to gun violence what their opinions
are.
Attempts
to place police personnel in all the nations’ schools,
even just the elementary ones, will be difficult if not impossible.
It could actually present a challenge to persons who may wish
to commit an act of violence. How would we pay wages for police
in our schools when we have reduced our forces all over the
country? We don’t have enough police
to take care of our needs on the streets
and no
one has
suggested a budget
increase will be put in place to augment
police departments.
I
believe the release of NRA’s “Practice Range” Apple
app, timed exactly one month from the
day of the Sandy Hook tragedy, was a disrespectful
slap in
the face
of our president.
I hope what they did will backfire and
show the politicians who support the
NRA they
have
gone
too far. They
must know the group has the power to
help resolve the gun
control
issue without taking rights away from
anyone.
A suggestion could be made that all responsible hand gun or
long gun owners could practice additional cautions. When a
child shows up at school with a loaded gun that a parent or
guardian carelessly left available, that person should be severely
punished and perhaps required to turn in all guns in their
possession. This action, well publicized, could reduce accidental
gun violence occurrences.
To
those who make the claim they don’t want any action
that may reflect upon their right to bear arms let’s
consider: What rights do innocent
children have? Was it all right to
disregard
their rights when
their lives
were
taken?
If NRA members, that the leadership is so proud of by repeatedly
announcing their number, would ask those leaders to help solve
as many of the gun control problems as possible, a solution
may be found. There is not going to be a resolution that will
bring about total gun control, but there are certainly ways
to guide the industry to better safety.