After the 2012 Sandy Hook (Elementary School) shooting, Connecticut enacted some of the most ambitious gun safety laws in the nation. The state banned over 150 models of guns, classifying them as assault rifles; banned the sale of magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, and implemented a universal background check and registry of deadly weapon offenders.
The result? A 40 percent reduction in gun violence by 2016, the lowest homicide rate in the state’s history, and one of the lowest homicide rates in our country.
Let’s ban assault rifles – all 2,000 types, including those with bump stocks. Let’s require universal background checks, restore the ability of government agencies to study gun violence, and close gun show loopholes.
This is common sense that addresses the weapons of choice for perpetrators of mass destruction without infringing on rights protected by the Constitution. The Supreme Court has ruled that military weapons are not covered under the Second Amendment. Sportsmen and sportswomen may continue to hunt for wild game to feed their families.
In the wake of the Parkland shooting, a CNN poll found 70 percent back tighter gun laws (www.cnn.com/2018/02/25/politics/cnn-poll-gun-control-support-climbs/index.html).
Many of us favor banning private ownership of assault weapons and bump stocks, limiting the number of rounds in a clip, closing loopholes for gun shows, and other commonsense gun laws. Congressman Scott Tipton, are you listening to your constituents? We need you to step up and save our kids.
Jean A. Lee
Durango
