Bowling for westerners
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Where did the paranoia come from among some hunters and "gun rights advocates" that their right to own guns is seriously threatened (HCN, 10/27/08)? The NRA and its sympathizers make gun ownership an issue of such centrality that they spend millions of dollars on a wild campaign to ensure that any attempt to enable a sane and sensible gun policy fails, even supporting ordinances in some communities requiring citizens to own a gun.
Any effort to take guns away from law-abiding citizens would, for a number of reasons, fail to succeed. But why would requiring gun registration, gun education and prohibition of assault rifles threaten legitimate gun owners? Such measures would make it harder for school shooters, would-be criminals and suicidal people to obtain guns, reduce the number of violent incidents with assault rifles, and enable police to track offenders more easily. Canada, England and other countries do better with these restrictions without impairment to the civil rights of their citizens, while many Third World countries with no regulations and an abundance of guns are characterized by violence. Why does the U.S. prefer to be more like the Third World than the "civilized" countries of the West?
So here's a request for gun owners and the NRA. Get out in front of the issue to develop a sensible gun policy in the U.S. Define the types of guns and explosives that should be restricted. Develop a required program of education for gun owners — and the requirements for obtaining a gun permit. Finally, define a program of gun registration and assist in the development of a gun-tracking system.
John Shellenberger
Bozeman, Montana
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Is this so shocking ? Wouldn't anybody seem "centralized" if, say, the other amendments were threatened. Why would you expect any right minded, decent American NOT to be concerned about their most sacred rights ?
enable a sane and sensible gun policy
Sane and sensible ? Isn't that purely subjective ? I mean the abortion lobby doesn't consider notifying parents of their minor child's attempts at getting an abortion "sensible" NOR does it consider trying to prevent the crushing of the skulls of post term human beings "sensible" ! How was the TOTAL ban on guns in D.C. "sensible" by any means ? Those who call for these so called "sensible" gun laws have been SHOWN to ban guns if they are given the chance so stop it with those Orwellian words such as "sensible"; you insult peoples' intelligence !
Canada, England and other countries do better with these restrictions without impairment to the civil rights of their citizens
Oh NO ? Try and get a carry permit in any of these places and then tell me they don't interfere with their citizens' rights !
At the end of this sad commentary you almost sound "reasonable" but the latter comments prove otherwise. You are short on facts and heavy on the ignorant emotionalism as are others of your ilk that portend nothing positive concerning the rights of the American people !