Gun Control Issues

The Second Amendment clearly states, "The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

This statement as a right of the people (not a militia or other quasi-military group) has been affirmed by the Supreme Court in the District of Columbia v. Heller case. One would think that this might set the anti-gun crowd (hereafter referred to as the unarmed victims) back a step or two in their zeal to infringe upon this right. Unfortunately, the gun grabbing continues. With Obama in office, our second amendment rights are more in jeopardy now than ever before.

A couple of the more recent bills to begin the progress through the mess that is our government are:

HR 257 - "Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act of 2009". Introduced by Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas)

This bill is a prime example of the lack of knowledge of our lawmakers when it comes to firearms. The bill prohibits someone under the age of 21 of possessing a "semi-automatic assault rifle" or "large capacity magazine". Unfortunately, the bill lacks a definition of either of these prohibited items.

Now while this may seem like a great idea to the unarmed victims, the bill does not take into account that many of the members of our military are under 21 and regularly entrusted with the evil "semi-automatic assault rifles" in defense of our country.

HR 45 - "Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009". Introduced by Bobby L. Rush (D-Illinois)

This bill is an attempt to institute a nationwide registry for certain guns. Included in the list are the evil "semi-automatic rifles" as well as all pistols. This bill is a knee jerk reaction to the shooting death of Blair Holt, 16 at the hands of Michael Pace, 16. Pace was given the gun by a third juvenile Kevin Jones, 15 who also served as a lookout for Pace.

While the death of Holt is indeed a tragedy, does it necessitate the need for a national registry of certain firearms? I think not. This crime happened in Chicago, land of some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. A law-abiding citizen must jump though numerous hoops just to be able to own a handgun let alone carry one in public as Pace did. Just off the top of my head, there are at least four local laws already in place in Chicago to prevent just such a tragedy from occurring by restricting the right of a citizen to protect themselves. Pace and Jones ignored these laws as well as the ones against murder, assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a weapon within city limits, possession of a handgun by a minor and possession of a handgun on a CTA bus.

Why didn't those laws protect the life of Blair Holt? Are the laws that are on the books already ineffective or unenforceable? I will leave it to the reader to decide.

Licensing every handgun and certain semi-automatic rifles will not put an end to the violence. All this will serve to do is create another government bureaucracy to your money and track your actions as a private citizen.