I am a parent, and I would like to know that my daughter & her boyfriend could go to the movies and only be frightened by what is on the screen, not fearing for their lives. There is no reason whatsoever for a civilian to own an assault weapon. Nada. Zilch. None. So why are we going through another tragic event like the one that happened in Columbine or VATech, Tucson, AZ, et al? Because the NRA threatens people running for office that it's their way or the bullet-ridden highway. But our citizens do nothing.
Of course, the shooter is still "alleged" to have killed 12 and wounded 58 others; so it is his fault. But he was enabled by the NRA and their ridiculously lax gun laws. But we need to have a conversation about this NOW, since it's impossible to do last week, say Thursday afternoon ... Responsible citizens may be allowed to have guns for hunting or protecting their homes & families (altho I don't necessarily believe that part), but an assault weapon should only be used by the police (in DIRE circumstances) and the military.
And all gun owners should be held accountable for their actions; i.e., hospital bills, overtime for police and other first-responders, as well as the funerals for those who have died. How is this a political argument? It's a humane argument. As much as people have the right to bear arms (tho there was NOTHING in the Constitution about AK's), so too do people have the right to go shopping or to a movie w/out wondering if they'll make it out of the mall or theater alive.
Please, NRA, use common sense. Don't regard gun ownership higher than the value of a life. Do it now, while we are still bleeding from this senseless act of violence, not when we are finished grieving and push it out of our minds.
