I agree, it’s not just a matter of who owns the guns but who else can get their hands on these dangerous weapons, children.  Owning a gun isn’t wrong but when kids start using them with normalcy, that’s wrong.

I would like to know, why my comment which is in any case supposed to be UNMODERATED for i am Registered—never appeared

Is it because i do not believe that gun control is any more than a politically dangerous wrong turn?

The only people who are expendable in this nation are those who are objectified and exploited and victimized. by thugs and bullies.

There are some among us who are sentimental and foolish enough to think that appeasement and cowardice will retrain a bully, a nut job, or aviolent thug.  It is blatant disrespect to assert that training people in conflict resolution pprecludes training them also in self defense and that empowering folks to stand up to bullies and thugs somehow CREATES violence.

There is a terrific book by Abigail KOHn called “SHOOTERS” it is an oxford university eductaed scholar’s study of the gun culture in USA. If you are not mired in prejudice above and beyond truth seeking you might care to read it and learn something.

Guns are necessary to protect democracy and communties from crime and homes and individuals from becoming violence statistics. Now that is making a person expendable!

Great article and one that deserves greater attention and at some level a serious response that indicates a concerned America. I too have a love affair with the historical nature of guns and weapons. I too enjoy some aspect of harmless sports, however to consider guns as a means of protection in the home is in my opinion just a shame and a sad representation that we are as stated above, expendable.

Yes, Naz, and then there’s the high cost of ammo to consider. I haven’t been able to practice for a long time, other than dry firing, and it’s a drag.

I reckon so, Dihey; Obama recalls how gun control cost Bill Clinton “Congress control” way back in 1994, and he doesn’t want a repeat next November. Lightning CAN strike twice, y’know.

“Profiles in Cowardice”. 

When, if ever, will Mr. Dionne admit that it is not only our Congress but also the White House that is infected with this malady?

Thank’ee kindly, Aminahyaquin. I, too, have never squeezed a trigger with intent to kill a human being, and hope and pray I never shall. My weapons are my “insurance”; I hope I never have to use them, but I’m awfully glad they’re there nonetheless.

Availability is not the problem, CaptRon; as I see it, it’s attitude. Kids need to be inculcated with the attitude that firearms are for defense, not attack; that mass killers are evil, wicked, and stupid, and not worthy of emulation; that it’s not the weapon, but what’s in the weapon-wielder’s heart, that counts. And the best place to learn these things is not from the State (which, after all, hates the very idea of a right to keep and bear arms, the US Constitution notwithstanding), but from concerned private adults (usually but not always blood relations).

All you people protecting your family with guns, how many criminals have you killed-shot-scared away because they knew you had a gun? Your right to own a gun is not an issue for me. The children who get these guns, repeat children, and are using them in the streets most everywhere is an issue. Eliminating the number of available guns to the streets and/or the ability to fire them would be a start. Guns are being supplied more readily then drugs it seems, and crime is it’s partner and certain end result. If we can’t solve the availability problem, then reduce or eliminate the ready availability of ammunition. Yes, smuggling would occur and yes some casings would/could be reloaded, but the easy readiness would diminish. Most ammunition that can/would be reloaded are for guns that aren’t necessarily concealable. Yes other weapons could be used, even molotov cocktails as one said, but not necessarily concealable. What I’m after here is an alternative that slows concealed weapons, that makes traceability of supplies to reload casings easier. Supplies could be traced and less available, where these weapons are not traceable due to filed registration numbers etc. The supplies to make ammunition require more space where ready to use ammo can be concealed in ones pockets, easily reloaded into an unregistered weapon and possibly in the hands of anyone who can hold it and considers it power. Children are killed in the streets and in the homes by unlocked loaded weapons owned by someone keeping this gun to protect their family from crime. Hunters, I don’t want to eliminate your sport, patriots I don’t want to suppress your patriotism, human beings I do want you to be able to LIVE your lives free from death due to those who ARE irresponsible. Think here, there can be common ground for the betterment of all who cherish true freedom.

I never heard the NRA say that terrorists should be able to buy guns, the SC has already ruled that gun ownership is a right guaranteed by the constitution. Having said that ownership should be restricted to citizens no green card or illegal, no felons or nut jobs is a fair compromise.
Wonder why Dioanne doesn’t subscribe to the same poll that reflect the public’s view on abortion that unless the women’s LIFE is in danger, rape or incest there is no right to an abortion. Gun ownership is spelled out in the constitution abortion was a dreamed up right

The comments above show a real dearth in comprehension about the etiology of teh violence in this nation, how its causes converge, and what must be done to prevent it—and to defend against according to the law and to centuries old rpinciple of self defense.
Guns don’t kill people. peioople kill people. A major reason that people kill others is because of black market crime and the use of drugs and alcohol. if you ban guns there will be molotov cocktail and acid attacks. people do not become less violent because you take away their weapon of choice. they turn to new weapons.
if we are going to build peace in our communities we must provide an alteranative for people in multiply besieged poor areas to work and gain education that is not an exercise in failure and futility. we must make it possible for families to live without resorting to the black market crime that fuels the only economy in thieir neighborhood. we musr stop the cycle of violence that begins with being victimized at home and in school and in one’s community. we must empower young people instead of allowing them to gain their sense of mastery from crime and cruelty.
Until we have accomplished this, i am thankful i live in a state where i can protect myself and my family and my small farm from the desperate and drug addicted.
after we do this, i will still be glad for the second amendment rights that i have in this nation and state unimpeeded to sleep at night knowing if i need to defend myself i can.
you must be strong to be gentle, and good people consistently underestimate the power and cruelty, the unlimited violence of evil in PEOPLE not in arms.

I would like to draw everyone’s attention to the following article from MSNBC:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34382626/ns/us_news-life/print/1/displaymode/1098

Headline: “Tenn. demonstrates trend of looser guns laws”.

And I would point out that, as ammunition is so small, it would be easier to smuggle it into this country (think of how easy it is to run drugs into the USA) than firearms; and also recall that hundreds of gun owners also reload ammunition (i.e., re-use cartridge cases by adding new bullets, primers and powder to said cases).

My point is, the true test of a democracy is how much freedom minorities have. Washington should leave us gun-owners alone; we are no danger to anyone but the criminals, who (obviously) would LOVE to see us disarmed so they can go about their nefarious work with relative impunity (remember, the cops can’t be everywhere, and they’re primarily a reactive force, not a pro-active one).

Outlaw the manufacture of ammunition in this country. Let these manufacturers move out of the country with everything else. I realize there will be ammunition some-way some-how, but not manufactured in this country. Like drugs, the price will increase, especially if sale is illegal and it must be smuggled in. The military can have theirs but under their control. Far fetched I know, but something this silly seems to be the only way we will get any gun control to help get these guns out of the hands of kids and those who have complete disregard for a human life. Out of the hands of people who can’t just agree to disagree, they just shoot you to show their power. In my family and neighborhood, if we had a problem with someone we put on big old boxing gloves and threw punches until we couldn’t raise our arms anymore to throw another. Then we agreed to disagree and went about our way. We have to start to fix things through the children. Hitler was right about one thing, you create change on a large scale by starting with the youth. How simple is that, we just have to start taking the time to do it, quality time. Of course, this requires quality supervision by adults-parents. It can be done. By example, the worst issue of Black men was that they were never there to take responsibility for all the children they sired. There were no father figures on a large scale, common complaints by Black mothers. I watched when children grew, how much respect those now grown Black children had for their mothers. Those mothers gave of themselves but demanded these children better themself by commitment. It has changed, big time. I only hope the rest of the world takes an honest look at this, changes their ways, and we start to rebuild integrity and truly respectable adults. Also want to mention that the rich successful parents are as bad as Black fathers used to be. They supplant relationships with their children with material possessions as substitutes. They are not there for their children’s upbringing when technically they are there. Off text, maybe, but maybe not.

I’ll start and finish the same way:

Jim Brady-the political process, which you were a big part of with Reagan has deemed your life and safety expendable, along with the rest of us.

Note to gun owners and the NRA, I am not opposed with your right to own guns as much as the ability to buy and own the projectiles used in operation of these weapons. They are not weapons until they are fired. I’m sure Dick Cheney didn’t, and doesn’t, feel he was shooting a weapon when he shot his friend and hunting partner. So, own the guns if you must. I don’t want people to be able to fire them. Great collectors items and examples of history. Deadly in the hands of those with ammunition. You are correct, guns don’t kill people, people kill people. At least the ones with ammunition. I recommend the law should be to eliminate ammunition, for sale or manufacture or possession of. This can eliminate many of the guns on the streets being used in crime. Can we agree on this? I doubt it..thus I finish…

Jim Brady, your life and safety are expendable, as are we all.