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Health & Fitness

GUN CONTROL - Common Sense Solutions Do Exist

I am a United States Marine Corp veteran and have been asked repeatedly over the last several weeks where I stand on Gun Control.

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Dan Gaita, Neighbor
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I am a United States Marine Corp veteran and have been asked repeatedly over the last several weeks where I stand on Gun Control. Whether I'm asked by NRA representatives, legislators, or fellow concerned parents of our community my answer is the same and the reactions I receive seem rather synonymous too.

Everyone seems to agree on a couple key points:

1. No criminal with a violent history ever needs to possess or carry a firearm.

2. FBI background checks are a GOOD thing for anyone wanting to carry a concealed firearm

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3. Allowing the local police department to have issuing authorization authority for any concealed carry applicant is also a good thing. 

Here is where things seem to fall into deep debate:

  1. Whether or not a private citizen should be allowed to purchase/possess an automatic or semi automatic high capacity type of weapon.

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  • Should there be limits to the round capacity of magazines a private citizen can possess?
    1. Position 1. The National Rifle Association (NRA) believes this is a constitutionally protected right which was put into place by our forefathers to allow American Citizens to always be able to protect themselves from an overreaching and tyrannical government. History and the Supreme court continue to uphold this fundamental right.
    2. Position 2. The Gun Control Lobby believes that our forefather's could never fathom the types of weapons we produce today. After-all, when the Constitution was being written, we were still using single shot, single load rifles that took nearly a minute for the average citizen to reload. 
    3. Position 3. The Rational Perspective believes that no private citizen needs to own the types of high capacity rapid fire weapons that are at the center of the gun debate. Why?
      1. By law, you can't hunt with these types of weapons.
      2. They are less effective in home protection then a shot gun or hand held pistol. (both of which are perfectly legal)
      3. They are continually involved in violent crimes, drug and gang wars, and mass murders.

    • So where do we find common ground on this sensitive issue?

    The short answer - As long as the NRA and Gun Control lobby continue to use the Gun Debate as a political leverage tool we are likely to continue to see more senseless killings. 

    Face it, the legislation that is required to manage gun control rationally is muted by the money pumped into the political process by those for or against whatever the opposite side argues. This unfortunate reality is tantamount to watching a a bunch of idiots argue with each other by saying "blah blah blah, I can't hear you, blah blah blah." As a result - innocent people continue to die.  

    So to the NRA and the Gun Control Lobby, I have this advice to give. Shut up, be rational, and listen to what the other side is saying....You are killing us. Literally.

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