Once again the question of strict gun control or no gun control has hit our headlines.
This time, with the Aurora, CO shooting that killed 12 and injured more than 50 at the opening night of the Batman sequel, it has brought out those who want to eliminate all individual gun ownership in America and those that feel that the Constitution guarantees the right to own guns — any type of guns.
Like it or not we will never forbid the ownership of guns nor will the right to own unlimited weapons continue to be guaranteed. The question is: Is there a middle-ofthe- road approach that all, or at least the majority of Americans, will support?
First, the right to own guns will remain part of our constitutional guarantees. Second, we must accept the fact that hunters and individuals at firing ranges do not need assault weapons, such as an AK47, that would not just destroy a target, but missing the target, would destroy the entire firing range.
I have friends that go hunting in Wyoming every year. Asked if they would like an AK47 to hunt elk, they laugh. Not only do they bring home trophies to hang in the family room, but they fill their garage freezers with wild game meat to enjoy the entire year. An AK47 would end the idea of bringing home the “meat;” there wouldn’t be meat left to bring home.
The question that is more difficult to answer is: What are the appropriate limits to individual gun ownership and who would monitor them? Certainly, almost everyone would admit that if an individual buys, from three different sources in a very short period of time, three weapons including an AK47, he or she must be anticipating more that hunting elk in Wyoming or practicing at the local gun club.
Gun ownership registration by the federal government or state government is looked upon as the first step to total gun control and is totally unacceptable to a great number of Americans. And, at least half the country would not buy such a proposal — even if its sole purpose was to keep individuals from stockpiling weapons and ammunition.
However, like it or not, registration is the only way to prevent gun and ammunition accumulation from taking place. If not the government, then who could monitor gun and ammo control?
The National Rifle Association!
The NRA believes in the right to bear arms. They also advocate, in addition to their main goal the defense of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, education and the proper and safe use of firearms.
So let’s ask the NRA to step up to the plate and establish a private program that will monitor gun accumulation, buying sprees for short periods of time, that would give them the ability to see who was creating arsenals and put an end to additional gun and ammunition sales to that individual. The NRA would alert all gun dealers, flea markets and gun shows to discontinue sales to that individual.
And, government would not participate.
The NRA would know that the whole nation was watching its performance. Backers of the right to bear arms would be intently watching to make sure that the NRA got it right in order to keep government out of the registration process. It also would placate the other side, which would acknowledge and recognize that someone is watching for massive accumulations of weaponry such as the recent shooter who had accumulated thousands of rounds of ammunition in a short period of time, enough to arm a small army.
Don’t like the idea of NRA participation? Okay, let’s hear your suggestion. As long as both sides, those in favor of unlimited gun ownership and those who want to limit gun ownership to the military, will not meet in the middle, with suggestions good or bad, we will continue to see disasters such as we experienced in Aurora, CO a few weeks ago.
Let me hear from you with your ideas, Send e-fax to 786-441-4059 or email to KBluh@AmericanBSM.com
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