The opportunity the Sandy Hook Massacre provided the Democratic Party continues its push towards doing away with the 2nd Amendment, in reality if not in fact, and has a multitude up in arms - no pun intended.
Missouri Democrats attempt to pass a bill in which gun owners must willingly surrender certain fire-arms, or be charged with a felony with no reparation for legally bought personal property, is just one such example. Here in Illinois, Cook County's States Attorney, Anita Alvarez is on record as saying that she did not believe anyone but police should ever be allowed to own a gun. The strict gun laws in Cook County now jeopardized by the Federal Appelate Court ruling, brought forth the reponse last week from Paul Castiglione , a representative for Ms. Alvarez, that this ruling to be "not binding" on the state.
It looks like someone in the States Attorney's office has determined Cook County to be a law unto itself.
Now I do not own a gun, do not have a FOID card, have never shot a gun, as our own president has, but I know encroachment on civil liberties when I see it, and know when to dig in my heels on an issue of such import.
Politics that has nothing to do with gun control is also at play here. The NRA is a most powerful lobby. Get rid of guns and you get rid of that "nuisance," which supports oppositions to this Administration's initiatives. No guns, no money and then Republicans will scramble more than ever, while the Democrat unions will take up the slack when their candidates are up for election.
There are those who point to Australia, a country that did away with guns, owned by approximately 7% of the population, as a role model. But Australia and the United States are so different in culture and geography, that this "one size fits all" remedy simply would never work.
Australia is a continent and an island nation unto itself surrounded by water, unlike the U.S., bordered by both Canada, and more importantly, Mexico. If we can't keep the smuggling of drugs out of Mexico and into the U.S., we won't do any better with illegal guns.
Furthermore, this country has always supported a gun culture since its inception. 50% of the population own guns, and more are buying everyday out of fear of a government that would take this right away, and has grown so out of control, that its mandate to serve the people is turning into a mandate of people serving government. Enough!
The problems confronting us today, that would give rise to such heinous acts as took place at Sandyhook Elementary School are cultural, not in the instrument itself. Until politicians and the public work together in this direction, nothing will change. Just more innocent people will be killed because they won't have the guns to protect themselves, and the bad guys will.
The mother who sought to bond with her son, a special needs student with Ausberger's Syndrome, as reported by the news media, by taking him shooting, lacked any common sense or forethought regarding the actions her son was capable of. Her poor judgement has been hung on the necks of the NRA and those who support and/or own guns - and that is half of the country.
It is interesting to note that whilst approached by this Administration, Hollywood has refused to tone down their movies, which have become ever more violent. Not willing to jeopardize its relationship with Hollywood, such ideas as put forth have been allowed to die a quiet death. Threatening anyones revenue source can have a chilling effect.Then again, most in the private sector already know this, but don't have the leverage Hollywood does. Hollywood makes its movies, as is their constitutional right. Their right to freedom of speech must not be abridged.
Is not our right to bear arms equally important?
The push to take away all fire-arms happens bit by bit, but with this Administration, if you give them an inch, they will take a mile, and in half the time.
We measure our freedom by the rights given us through our Constitution, not a centimeter less.
That includes protecting us from an overzealous government as well as the "bad guys".
Some are beginning to question which is which?
