Today, November 6, 2009, just one day after the terrible tragedy at Fort Hood another shooting has occurred. For those of you wondering this time it happened in Orlando at the office building of where the suspect was supposedly employed, Reynolds Smith & Hill firm. The Chief of Police Val Demings said one is confirmed dead and at least five injured. In the aftermath of the Orlando Shooting, mayor Buddy Dyer, has stated the suspect is in custody. This leaves us all wondering with a rash of shooting, what is going on? Recently, the Assault River ban which was passed under the Clinton administration lapsed in September of 2004 and is no longer in effect. As one who grew up an avid hunter and an outdoorsman I strongly believe in the right to bear arms. Also, I strongly oppose tyrannical and authoritarian government, and believe we must protect our freedoms of speech, press, assembly, religion, and other inalienable rights. This being said, do we need the right posses assault rifles? The second Amendment to the Bill of Rights guarantees us the right to bear arms. What does this mean? Should we posses’ shotguns and rifles for hunting? Handguns to shoot people who are committing crimes or that we believe are doing so? RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades) to shoot down helicopters that we believe are attacking us? C4, dynamite, nuclear weapons to use against anyone we see fit as an enemy? If the government decided to turn the military on us with their arsenal of tanks, jets, helicopters, heat seeking missiles and a plethora of more complex weapons and military tactics will we be able to fend them off with AK 47s? No right is absolute, including freedom of speech, you can't scream fire in a crowed theater if there is no such fire. I believe it's more effective to be actively involved in the voting process, campaigning, and protesting that which you do or do not agree with. Violence almost always begets more violence and AK 47s, MP 5's, M 16's, and other assault rifles probably will do little to solve any such government tyranny people are afraid of. I believe in the right to bear arms for hunting and sporting purposes, but people in today’s age have little use for assault rifles. Additionally, gun shows and other open ended selling events allow criminal, felons, and other deplorable individuals to obtain weapons that create mayhem. The police already have enough to handle without dealing these kinds of threats.
Should we pass another assault rifle ban?
Do we need more gun control legislation to prevent this from happening again?
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 1
You go on and on about AK47's, MP5's, M16's, but the truth is full auto weapons have been under strict governemnt control since the National Firearms Act of 1934. It is illegal to be in possesion of such a weapon without it being registered with the BATFE and having a Class 3 firearms license.
One real truth about this is that in a room of unarmed people, one can use a lever action rifle to very deadly effect. And carrying two, seven shot 357 Magnum revolvers gives a fella 14 rounds to wreack havoc on unsuspecting and unarmed victims. Smith & Wesson and Taurus both make 7 shot revolvers, look at their websites.
What would be really nice is if people who advocate more gun laws would take the time to study and find out just what laws are on the books already, and just what kinds of guns and people those laws apply to. It is illegal to murder people already. It is illegal to do so with a firearm of any type. What you are suggesting is that we pass another do nothing law in the name of wishful thinking. If such laws actually prevented crimes like this, this wouldn't have happened in the first place.
What is different here, is that Jason Rodriguez is in custody instead of having blown his brains out at the scene. Perhaps this time society will be able to punish the guilty.