Question of the week: Would stricter gun control laws largely prevent incidents like the horrific elementary school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut?
- Lisa Pampuch: Yes. Other first-world countries with strict gun control laws have dramatically lower rates of gun violence than the U.S. does. Stronger gun control laws (which, by the way, does not mean taking away guns; rather strengthening regulations and closing loopholes) are not sufficient. We must also work to improve access to mental heath care.
- Jeff Smith: No. While the mass murder in Connecticut was a terrible, terrible tragedy, stricter gun laws would not have prevented it nor any other scenario like it. What finally stopped the lunatic in Connecticut was when someone with a gun showed up. Taking guns away from law-abiding citizens only empowers the criminals and the crazies – they’re not going to comply with the law anyway. More focus should be on banning the graphic and gratuitous violence in the movies and video games – this would make a difference.
- David Cohen: No, because restrictive laws are progressive not retroactive. These guns were already out there. But moving forward, laws that would restrict ownership of what are called assault rifles and high capacity magazines, would make it more difficult for a shooter to produce such devastating results. And this is only half the battle. The mental health issues also need to be addressed.
- Chris Bryant: No, those bent on violence will continue to find a weapon. Bureau of Justice Statistics show that in 2009 only 8% of violent crimes involved firearms.
- Julian Mancias: Yes. The assailant, Adam Lanza, had too easy of an access to so many guns and so much ammunition. Tighter gun control might have prevented access to these weapons.
- Hank Miller: No, I do not believe they would. The abundance of weapons already in existence and the ease of acquiring them from illegal sources make more legislation of questionable value. However, we should try anything that has even the slightest chance of helping eliminate the epidemic of senseless violence that grips this country.
- Karen Anderson: Yes. They certainly would make it more difficult for people to get assault rifles which kill so many so fast. No one needs an assault rifle to kill a deer.
- Kathy Sullivan: Yes, without the easy access to the Bushmaster AR-15, which I hear is a best seller; this assault rifle might not have been available for this troubled young man. Having the ability and the firepower to rip through 6-year-olds tiny body 11 times is not something our Founding Fathers had in mind.
- Dave Appling: A qualified yes. Rational gun laws — starting with eliminating the gun-show exception to background checks and banning semi-automatic rifles and monster magazines — are necessary, but not sufficient. Among other reforms, America needs a MADD-style grass-roots program to create and maintain momentum, and comprehensive improvements to our mental-health programs.
- Dennis Kennedy: No, They would not “largely prevent incidents like … Newtown, Conn.”, but they would most certainly help. A ban on military-like assault weapons may help, but that is just one part of the total solution. Violent video games, individuals with medical/psychological issues needing help and not getting it, may help. Laws requiring the secure locking up of guns and weapons by their owners would help, secure facilities, and on and on. Too many deaths are caused by family and friends, either by accident or in a fit of anger or rage killing family members or friends. All of the best minds and all of our best knowledge of the causes and cures of such tragedies need to be brought together to come up with solutions. It is possible.
- Bert Berson: NO. I have no words for this.
- Jeff Nunes: Probably not. Unless we are going to ban private ownership of guns entirely, and be able to enforce such a law, which is impossible, no amount of legislation can prevent the kind of evil we saw at Newtown. If there had been a law requiring all households containing persons with a mental illness to be gun free, that might have prevented this tragedy, but no law works unless it can be policed and enforced. Until we address other issues beyond gun control, like mental health laws or the false security we place in labeling places “gun free zones”, and even some cultural issues, we will never truly address this problem or get anywhere near preventing it from happening again.
