What About Assault Weapons? Let’s Get Rid of Them

I was happy to see that Carolyn McCarthy, a congressional representative from New York, is going to try to put forth some kind of sensible gun legislation in the wake of the tragic killings in Tucson. Rep. McCarthy’s husband was gunned down and her son injured in a Long Island shooting, so she’s no stranger to gun violence.

Apparently, she’s going to target (excuse the pun) the high-capacity ammunition clips that the gunman in Arizona used. Ironically, the ban on these types of assault weapons was allowed to expire in 2004. Who in the world needs a gun that will fire hundreds of bullets in less than a minute? If the shooter had not had an assault weapon, which he purchased legally, by the way, he would not have been able to kill and injure all of those people.

My heart goes out, especially, to the parents of that 9-year-old girl. According to an interview that I saw with her parents, the little girl was there to see “democracy in action.” She was interested in politics and government. It made me sick to think that that could have been my child. I have a daughter, now 21, who has always been interested in politics. She’s the kind of kid that would have gone to such an event, even as a little girl. Are we to be held hostage because the NRA wants anyone who wants one to be able to purchase a high-powered assault weapon? We don’t need them. I don’t hunt, but I seriously doubt that they’re used for hunting (except humans), and we don’t need them for protection.

The fact that anyone, including someone who is mentally ill, can go out and legally buy an assault weapon seems insane to me. Who can feel safe? So far, I’ve heard a lot of talk about the hateful rhetoric we hear, but little about sensible gun safety legislation. As a parent, I’m thankful for people like Rep. McCarthy who are not afraid to stand up and do the right thing.