Gun Control
I support the second amendment right of the people to keep and
bear arms. We
do not maintain our freedom by restricting the rights of responsible citizens
to prevent illegal activities by others, and one does not need to be enamored
by guns to understand that taking them away does not substitute for personal
responsibility in a free society. No one is in favor of violence on our
streets or in our homes, and laws that are promoted to reduce such violence
should at least be effective in achieving this objective. But restrictive gun
control laws have not worked when tried elsewhere, and regulations created by
the Legislature have been staged for appearances, rather than results. In
fact, the current arguments of gun control advocates have been directed at
demonizing objects and gun owner organizations, while ignoring the well
documented results of studies showing a very low incidence of accidents or
misuse on the part of legal gun owners and an overall decline in levels of
gun violence in states with fewer restrictions on legal gun
owners.
Instead
of relying on sensationalistic headlines for political gain, effective
measures to prevent illegal use and possession of guns should include a
reliable instant check system to prevent individuals with a criminal record
or mental problems from purchasing guns, along with enforcement of the many
laws that are already in place to reduce the availability of guns on the
street and to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and gang members. And
since knowing how to avoid problems is the best way to prevent accidents of
all types, we need to take every opportunity to provide information and
education about gun safety and the dangers and consequences of irresponsible
use. I would also support the adoption of tax credits for the purchase of a
gun safe to help keep guns and other dangerous items in our homes away from children
and thieves. As with other aspects of criminal behavior, our best hope for
reducing violence of all types lies in developing attitudes of personal
responsibility and respect for others in our young people.
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