Letter: No more weapons of mass slayings
The USA can no longer dismiss its gun massacre problem. It must be addressed.
The framers of our Constitution added the Second Amendment with the idea that citizens could own a musket to protect the country from invasion, to be "a well-regulated militia." The Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms, but does not disallow regulation. There is no way that in 1791 with their one-shot muskets, today's guns capable of firing 100 shots in a minute or two could have been imagined.
We can no longer abide the mass slayings at our schools and public gatherings or let the NRA dictate our policy priorities by hiding behind the Second Amendment. There is no justifiable reason for any member of a civilized society to possess or need a clip or magazine for his/her gun that holds more than 10 rounds. They are not necessary for hunting purposes or target practice. They are, however, very useful to a mass murderer.
Today's multiple clips (11 or more rounds) must be outlawed.
They should be made illegal to buy from any source and to even possess.
There can be limited-time government buy-back programs to reimburse the owners their expenses, and then after that, institute heavy penalties for any possessors of such. Guns and ammunition should only be able to be purchased from licensed dealers. Purchasers must pass background checks and be subject to a reasonable waiting period.
We all should and do have a right to own a gun(s). No one disputes that. But please, no weapons of mass slayings.
Karner Trethewey
Marysville
