Who's Afraid of Gun Control?

AK-47 Assault Rife/Wikipedia

Ham on Wry offers reflections on gun control in the United States in today's post, after reading a disturbing article in the LA Times written by Morgan about an hour ago. He postulates that gun control has little chance of passing currently because a majority of Americans are contented with the current gun ownership laws in this country and states statistics from recent studies that support his premise. Really?

This blogger finds it unfathomable that people support the discontinuation of the assault weapons ban and wonder why any law-abiding citizen would need an AK47, for example. It has a range of 400 meters/440yards and shoots 600 rounds per minute. Who, exactly, needs a weapon of that type for the defense of a home, property, or personal protection? I can't think of anyone who would need something with that kind of overkill.

Oh, wait a minute. I can. The shooters at Columbine, the gunman at Virginia Tech, and our most recent tragedy in Aurora, Colorado when James Holmes clothed himself in riot gear and took and arsenal of weapons to a theater complex, killing 12 and wounding 59 in a rampage at a showing of The Dark Knight Rises. People who have the intent of killing others in premeditated fashion use AK-47's, not people who are trying to defend themselves.

Why is anyone afraid of gun control that would limit purchases to hand guns and hunting rifles, except in the case of collectors? No one need be concerned. It would not inhibit legal use of weaponry in any way. Assault rifles, gas canisters, bulletproof vests and other similar gear belong in the hands of the military, police, or other is legal organization whose job it is to protect citizens of the United States.

The NRA has resorted to fear tactics when it comes to gun control, and much of its reasoning lacks true logic and common sense. Those who want to own guns legally have the right to do so in this country, but we should have regulations in place to make it as difficult and as expensive as possible for those who have criminal intent to purchase weaponry designed as protection against aggressors in war or criminals.

So, I ask again, "Who's afraid of gun control?" The answer should  be, "Criminals". Law-abiding citizens should have no fear of it, because it would still allow them to own weapons not intended for the battlefield. Fear has overtaken reason, which explains the current attitude toward gun control. It's time for a reasoned national dialogue about the problem we face here. Our country loses more people in shooting deaths not related to war than all other countries combined. How long will we continue to allow the legal purchase of assault weapons?