It never surprises us just how strident the NRA is, but maybe, just maybe, they can agree that handguns shouldn't be sold to persons legally judged to be a danger to themselves or others, such as Virginia Tech shooter Seung-Hoi Cho.
Federal law in fact does prohibit sale of a handgun to someone judged to be a danger to himself or others, but unfortunately, the feds rely on the states to provide that information to the national database. Virginia, in turn, only provides that info to the database on patients involuntarily committed to a mental hospital.
Cho was never committed. But a judge did order him to undergo outpatient treatment, which, in many other states would have been enough to put his name into the database.
Virginia should fix this loophole on its own. But if it doesn't, Congress should override and set clear standards for the states. Perhaps the NRA could assist?
Meanwhile, we're also learning that Cho used 33-round clips of ammunition that would've been barred under a federal law that expired after Bush took over. And, he used hollow point rounds, which inflict greater damage, and thus account for many of the horrific wounds doctors had to treat last week in those students who were injured.
You certainly won't find the NRA supporting any restrictions on clip size or types of ammunition. We guess hunters need those huge semi-automatic clips just in case a herd of wild deer charge them, and they must like blowing out the insides of animals with hollow points--all the more of an excuse not to have to actually eat them.
We've also noted some of the gun nuts saying the real problem was that Virginia Tech students and faculty needed to be armed, so they could fight back. This is such a stupid argument we won't even begin to get into it. However, we will note that two armed police officers in Fairfax County were murdered last year by a deranged young man--also mentally ill, like Cho--who simply had them outgunned with his heavy NRA-sanctioned weaponry.
2 comments:
I couldn't agree more. Our gun laws are truly insane, and citizens need to get involved to let politicians know how they feel because the NRA is so well funded and so well organized. Money talks and politicians certainly listen when it comes to money. The frighteing thing is that we are losing this battle, even in the face of the evidence that easy access to guns equals violence. We must turn the tide and start passing some gun laws that make sense. We don't let anybody just get behind the wheel of a car and drive. Why should we let every citizen pick up a gun and start shooting?
I see this post is pretty old but I just came across it when looking up something else and had to say something.
Your example of the Chantilly Police Station shooting as evidence for guns not being effective protection is "such a stupid argument" I needed to get into it. The two officers that were killed were ambushed. The shooter hid between two cars, took aim, and opened fire. Once he had shot the two unsuspecting officer he didn't get anyone else because other officers - with guns - took him out. It's actually a perfect example of why the argument for guns on campus is a good one. Yes, no doubt some still would have died at Virginia Tech but if there were armed students/faculty it is doubtful he would have been able to kill so many.
@Lauren. It's because you don't have a Constitutional right to drive a car, it's a privilege.
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