12-17-2012, 02:15 AM
Here is the text of what I have sent to my congressman...feel free to copy/improve.
I am writing you to voice my opposition to any form of gun control as a result of the tragedy in CT this past week. Trespassing upon the 2nd Amendment is not the quick fix that people believe it to be.
There have been all sorts of mis-information peddled in the aftermath of the Newton, CT shooting. First, CT has some of the toughest gun laws in the US. They didn't help. Second, gun bans/regulation don't prevent gun violence. This can be seen by the mass murders perpetrated in Scotland, France, Germany and Norway in the past. These countries have some of the most onerous gun laws. Third, the presence of so called "assault rifles" are not the cause of gun violence. Switzerland requires every eligible adult to have military training and keep their issued "assault rifle" in their home at the ready. Switzerland has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
The real issue that needs to be addressed is a discussion of mental health and the distinct lack of mental health institutions. There is an excellent article written by Liza Long, a mother of a mentally troubled child at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/16...11009.html .
These recent mass shootings in the US have been perpetrated by people similar to that described by Ms. Long. These troubled youth have all had some form of mental impairment, and have been on psychotropic drugs. This is the discussion our country needs to have...one of balancing patient rights with the necessity of institutionalizing some of these troubled people.
There are already plenty of gun laws on the books that prevent the sale of weapons to mentally impaired individuals. Unfortunately, there are other ways of obtaining weapons. Guns are not the only tools available to those determined to mass murder. Additionally, these so called "gun free zones" are nothing more than invitations for unresisted violence and they should be eliminated. There have been many instances of law abiding citizens with concealed carry permits who have stopped or prevented violence from occurring (unfortunately, the mainstream media ignores these stories).
I strongly urge you to resist calls for additional gun control and instead turn the conversation to mental health issues where it properly belongs.
Respectfully,
I am writing you to voice my opposition to any form of gun control as a result of the tragedy in CT this past week. Trespassing upon the 2nd Amendment is not the quick fix that people believe it to be.
There have been all sorts of mis-information peddled in the aftermath of the Newton, CT shooting. First, CT has some of the toughest gun laws in the US. They didn't help. Second, gun bans/regulation don't prevent gun violence. This can be seen by the mass murders perpetrated in Scotland, France, Germany and Norway in the past. These countries have some of the most onerous gun laws. Third, the presence of so called "assault rifles" are not the cause of gun violence. Switzerland requires every eligible adult to have military training and keep their issued "assault rifle" in their home at the ready. Switzerland has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
The real issue that needs to be addressed is a discussion of mental health and the distinct lack of mental health institutions. There is an excellent article written by Liza Long, a mother of a mentally troubled child at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/16...11009.html .
These recent mass shootings in the US have been perpetrated by people similar to that described by Ms. Long. These troubled youth have all had some form of mental impairment, and have been on psychotropic drugs. This is the discussion our country needs to have...one of balancing patient rights with the necessity of institutionalizing some of these troubled people.
There are already plenty of gun laws on the books that prevent the sale of weapons to mentally impaired individuals. Unfortunately, there are other ways of obtaining weapons. Guns are not the only tools available to those determined to mass murder. Additionally, these so called "gun free zones" are nothing more than invitations for unresisted violence and they should be eliminated. There have been many instances of law abiding citizens with concealed carry permits who have stopped or prevented violence from occurring (unfortunately, the mainstream media ignores these stories).
I strongly urge you to resist calls for additional gun control and instead turn the conversation to mental health issues where it properly belongs.
Respectfully,