Assault Weapons

Hi All:

Sometimes I read or watch a news program that makes me think that some people in this country have lost their minds and common sense is the furthest thing in their minds. I know that this subject is a touchy one with a lot of people, but we need a whole lot of good old common sense here!

Last Sunday, 4/12/09, I watched 60 Minutes, a well respected, news magazine show that has been on the air for decades. One segment on the show was about the State of Virginia gun shows. Did you know that in Virginia it is harder to buy an alcoholic drink then to buy an assault weapon? Yes that is unfortunately very true! The segment showed and talked about people selling any type of firearm, including assault weapons, right out of their car trunks in the parking lots at Virginia's gun shows. Now unless you are from Virginia or have attended a gun show there, you might not know that selling guns like that is perfectly legal. WHAT!!!!!!! Not only can guns be sold like that, there is no requirement to do a background check. If you have the money, you can buy any type of gun no questions asked. Some people say, so what, what is the big deal? The big deal is this: people with a criminal history or people mentally challenged can buy an assault weapon(s) that easily.

Now I know that the NRA consistently states their rhetoric that guns don't kill people, people kill people. But what exactly is an assault weapon? Assault weapons like the AK-47 were developed with one and only one goal in mind; to kill as many people as possible in as little time as possible. In a war, these guns are invaluable. But in private hands, these weapons can and are extremely dangerous. Have you ever heard of a hunter that shot their game with an assault weapon? I didn't think so.

Now the NRA and its members will tell you that according to the Second Amendment, individuals have the right to keep and bear arms. The actual Second Amendment does state that, "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." The current legal meaning of the Second Amendment was recently addressed in District of Columbia v. Heller. In Heller, the Supreme Court determined that the Second Amendment protects an individual right, with the majority opinion stating that. The majority wrote that "The Second Amendment protects an individuals right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self defense in the home." But the sole purpose of an assault weapon is to kill people.

I have no objection to people owning non assault weapons. I do though strenuously object to people owning automatic handguns, 50 caliber rifles and AK-47's etc., etc. There is no need to have them. If you like to hunt, so be it, but you don't use those type of weapons. I do not believe that making ownership of those type of weapons illegal, infringes on any ones rights. If anything it will save lives.

Virginia's current law that allows such sales of assault weapons has no common sense and needs to be changed ASAP. I also believe that the Second Amendment's newest ruling by the Supreme Court should have a addendum to prohibit the sale and ownership of assault weapons. Now that would make common sense.

There is no good use for and makes no common sense in the private ownership of any kind of assault weapons, PERIOD!

Talk to you next week.