Assault Weapons

To anyone who owns an AR-15, what does it do for you other than giving you an emotional boost? - I have fired AR-15s at shooting ranges, and it’s quite a feeling. - If you want to feel powerful, buy a Harley Davidson. You may be a model citizen with no record of violence, but guess what? Steven Paddock was a model citizen, and he killed 51 people in Vegas.

I understand that lots of people who own powerful weapons will never use those weapons to hurt people. The point is that society as a whole has DEMONSTRATED, repeatedly and tragically, that it is unable to handle high-powered weapons. As long as these weapons are available, mass shootings will occur. Human beings worship violence, and they always have. Look at the popularity of combat sports, super hero movies, and violent video games. Our lust for violence in some form is relentless. That hasn’t changed. And while the majority of us have the emotional capacity to watch an MMA match without feeling the need to hit someone, there are people who cannot control those impulses.

What has changed is that weapons technology has advanced, and access to powerful weapons is easier than ever, thanks in part to lifting and/or preventing the passage of meaningful regulations. Gun manufacturers are shielded from liability. Gun owners don’t have to register all weapons and don’t have to carry insurance to cover damages, as we require from the owners of automobiles. Second-hand sales are not tracked, and the original owner is not responsible for the actions of subsequent owners. Most guns used in crimes are purchased legally. Would criminals still find a way to get guns? Some would, but the availability would be reduced by a more restricted supply chain.

Do we need assault weapons in the hands of citizens? Ronald Reagan didn’t think so, and he was well-regarded by the NRA of his era. Do we need well-regulated militias in an era when our military is massive and technologically sophisticated? If so, how are those militias regulated. Can anyone name and existing militia and provide details on its regulation? The founding fathers could not have imagined an AR-15, but it is conceivable that they intended the Second Amendment to adapt to technological change. Provisions could be made for individuals and organizations to own assault weapons under strict regulations. Insurance is required and possibly a bond, annual registration, special training, and resale must follow all of the same restrictions.

And let’s please find some way to determine whether someone is responsible enough to own a powerful weapon. The perpetrators of mass shootings typically leave long trails of red flags. They threaten people. They instigate violence. They praise the work of other shooters. They commit violent or abusive acts at home. Let’s have the guts to restrict people like that from owning firearms. The Second Amendment isn’t going to be nullified if we keep guns out of the hands of bullies, hot heads, and wife beaters. That’s not one small steps toward eroding our liberties. It’s one small step to restoring a safe environment where our churches and businesses aren’t killing fields, and where our children aren’t slaughtered in their classrooms.