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Published 1/3/2013 in Commentary : Letters to the Editor
Time to address assault weaponsOur Second Amendment reads: A well regulated Militia, being necessary for the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Ratified 12/15/1791.
The National Rifle Association, many politicians and most Americans, feel this means any type of gun may be sold over the counter. In 1791, armor-piercing bullets, multi-shot AK-47s or a hand-held stinger rocket that can bring down an airplane, were not even dreamed of. During the past 230 years, our world has become extremely violent. Television, movies and Internet games are so explosive that people have become callous — insensitive, almost cruel.
Hospitals for addicts and mental patients to receive medicine and counseling were closed due to budget shortages. These ex-patients are now living among us, where high-powered guns might be obtained. Military equipment belongs where supervised training is available, to limit its use in our democracy. Hundred-bullet clips are not allowed on a hunting field in Kansas, and should not be legal in an Aurora theater or a Connecticut school room.
Do we remember who was the elite model for our 2012 election? President Ronald Reagan. When he and three others were shot by John Hinckley, Jr., in 1981, a gun bill was passed.
Manufacturing weaponry is a mega-million dollar industry. Our elected officials seem to have allowed NRA lobbyists to influence their decision making, instead of Mr. Reagan. Schools and shopping venues around this country have become target ranges. Soldiers are dying in two wars. And we are despised worldwide for providing weapons to extremists in other countries. I don't think this is the American life envisioned by founders of the U.S. Constitution.
If criminals use ballistic-resistant armor to commit a felony, their prison sentence will be enhanced by the court. But no one can be punished for selling him the gun or for buying the stolen property. Yes, a citizen who has property stolen in a burglary, itemized on a police report, must buy it back from a pawn shop or metal recycler.
Voters must tell their legislators to debate assault weapons, as hard as the abortion issue. America should be enforcing human rights for our citizens, before condemning Iraq or China. Maybe Congressional approval levels might rise above 17 percent.
JANETTE HAVERKAMP,
Garden City
Found 36 comment(s)!
Concerned Citizen comments
CC - I enjoy hearing everyone’s input and thoughts on the subject. However, why do you have to berate and demean people who don't agree with your thoughts and principles? Just type your thoughts or response on here without demeaning or making fun of the other commenter. It’s sad, but the way you’re attacking and bullying people is the new norm for the liberal way of “debating” and “compromising.”
Posted by: AN on 1/17/2013
President Obama
Gc Advocate,
I wish you knew how to spell! President Obama is ONLY doing his job and doing it VERY WELL! Arizona wanted to send back students who were brought here by their parents and only wanted to go to college. The republithugs are the ones who talk out of both sides of their mouths. MSNBC always has CONservatives on. We get both sides of an issue unlike FOX that only tells lies about our president. I am informed for your information. AND yes, I know how BACKWARD Kansas is, with all the ignorant CONservatives in their state.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/16/2013
Obslama
Concerned Citizen, I thought your president was openly supportive of immigration reform and openly criticized states like Arizona for sending so many people back across the border. What, can't he make up his mind? Typical Obslama, talking out of both sides of his mouth. And if you stopped watching channels like MSNBC, which OPENLY promotes liberalism with their "Lean Forward" campaign (the only news channel that does this by the way) and watched something else, maybe YOU would be more informed. I'm sure glad your way of thinking is the minority in KS.
Posted by: GC Advocate on 1/16/2013
President Obama
Kelly, I forgot several things, President Obama reformed student loans, He had "Race to the Top" for Education, instead of DUBYA'S Race to the Bottom. The new GI Bill, Repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". All Dubya got done was 2 wars,not paid for, Prescription Drug program, not paid for, A worthless education program, not paid for. His four things, not paid for is the reason we are in the mess we are in today. Thanks for NOTHING, DUBYA!
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/15/2013
President Obama
Gc Advocate,
If you watched a station that told the truth, you would know that more illegals have been sent back to Mexico than under any other president. But what can you expect when all you watch is Fox! President Obama is a much nicer guy than DUBYA! At least President Obama has not ignored the warning signs and let other people attack us on 9/11.
Posted by: Concered Citizen on 1/15/2013
second amendment
Dexter,
You have been watching FOX. FOX lies to you. No one said that they are going to take your guns. You can keep all the guns you like and go shoot yourself for all I care. But NO ONE needs a gun that shoots 100 rounds without reloading.
Start watching someone who tells the truth and maybe you won't be so dumb when you write a comment.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/15/2013
President Obama
I did not list all the things that President Obama did. He did so much more than DUBYA, it is NOT funny! But here goes, since you wanted it! The Recovery Act that provided jobs for people that DUBYA lost. Wall Street reform, credit card reform, Rebuilding the American Automoble Industry, Fair pay for women, Affordable Health Care Act, Ending the war in Iraq, Plans to end the war in Afghanistan, Working towards a world without nuclear weapons, Children's Health Insurance and these things are only the first 2 years. You got that? I don't want to hear you say, "Is that all he got done in four years?" AND he could have done a lot more if the stupid republicans would have cared enough about this country to work with him. AND he brought RESPECT back to this country. EVERYONE hated us when DUBYA was president! AND what have you gotten done the last 4 years? Besides criticize people?
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/15/2013
Your List
CC,
Your list of the good things that BO has done is very short - 1 thing that he did, and another thing that he tried to do. Doesn't look very impressive for 4 years, does it?
Posted by: Kelly on 1/15/2013
Concerned Citizen...
Obama didn't sent more illegals back to Mexico, they left voluntarily, because for the first time in history Obama has made America a less desirable place to live than Mexico! As you pointed out, Obama wants the immigrants who go to college and vote democrat to stay in this country, the rest (who are illegal and can't vote for him) have to go. Yeah, what a nice guy...
Posted by: GC Advocate on 1/15/2013
The Second Amendment HELLO?!
There is NO way that a presidence or ANYONE up high in that office can keep us from having fire arms hence The 2nd Amendment..." which guarantees the right to keep and bear arms in the context of a state militia" In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two landmark decisions officially establishing this interpretation: In the District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008), the Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm, unconnected to service in a militia[1][2] and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes. So no matter WHAT happens in that little white house where those important people live or the office he works at, our rights to bear arms will never and shall never change so long as this country is a Free State!
Posted by: Dexter M on 1/15/2013
rick
Rick,
Since Fox does not tell you the good things that President Obama does, I will let you in on those things.
President Obama has sent more illegals back to Mexico than any president in history. AND President Obama tried to pass the bill for children who had no choice about coming to this country, that they could stay here and go to college, but of course the republicans in congress would not pass that bill. We would be much further ahead today if it had not been for the republicans in congress and stupid republicans in the senate who put forth over 300 fillibusters. If republicans REALLY cared about this country, they would have worked with our president. BUT we all know that republicans only care about themselves!
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/14/2013
Kris
Kris,
You know what else we did not have 60 years ago? The t-party! AND that is why life was better then!
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/13/2013
chilling
Kelly,
You are funnier than you look! You make me laugh so hard. SO the t-party does not want to force people to do anything! Why don't you tell that to Ryan, Bachmann, Gingrich, and all the rest of the t-party who want to tell everyone how they should live and if their religion is good enough for the t-party. They are the true nazis and everyone at FOX is a nazi. Democrats don't even come close to being nazis!
Posted by: concerned citizen on 1/13/2013
Chilling
CC,
The difference in the tea party movement and the Nazi movement (democrats) is that the tea party is not forcing their beliefs on everyone else. The democrats are the ones who are taking over this country and telling everyone what to do. The tea party wants people to be able to believe what they want. The democrats are forcing everyone to bow to their belief system. I do not agree with most of what the Dems stand for, but I am not shoving my belief system down their throats like they are doing to me.
Posted by: Kelly on 1/13/2013
chilling
Kelly,
What is CHILLING is the extreme far right views of the t-party element. These people want to take over this country and try to tell us all what to do! NOW that is CHILLING!
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/12/2013
Government is barking
Don't worry about gun control, they can pass all the laws they want, Hell Obama, Bush, Clinton and all past presidents have done nothing about illegal immigration for 40 years and they had federal laws on the books. So if our government can not round up 11 million illegals in last 20 years how are they going to handle 200 million American citizens with guns, WON"T happen ... remember my friends, these are the same folks we intrusted our social security, medicade, medicare and now Obamacare with...LOL
Posted by: rick on 1/12/2013
Wrong
We need to get rid of the guns that shoot so many bullets without reloading. NO ONE needs a gun that shoots that many bullets. The more guns there are, we will just have more people killed. We recently learned that deaths by cars has increased, so by your logic, we should have more cars on the road, that would eliminate getting killed while in the car.
AND your logic says, if a child throws a rock, we should arm EVERY child with a rock!
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/11/2013
hum
Well yes I was government schooled, but I also come from the school of hard knocks and calloused hands like I said im not articulate got to much to say
Posted by: sandbilly on 1/11/2013
Look around in last few days
I have read in last few days, put out by MSNB & others, not Fox, that VP Biden held a meeting with the NRA, many outdoors clubs, other gun groups, he said if we can not agree on gun control ( in code, what Obama wants) then Obama will do an excutive order inforcing gun control. Its all over the news, Biden made that comment, so what happended in Germany can happen in US of A ... Obama has been in the weeds waiting for an event like Newtown to come up and it did, so like his buddy Ram Emmanuel says "never let a good event go to waste". Obama in last 4 years has been shaping this country toward socialism, spending, high debt, big entitlement programs for the poor, unions & green energy. Gun control is Obamas next step in his over all plan to take over contro. Watch in the next 90 days, if he can not get congress to work with him on the debt ceiling, he and Nancy Pelosi has stated he will do an excutive order to raise it, unconstitutional, but he promised he will do it, if he does, then I am right, he has bigger plans. He wants "control" and it will start showing itself quickly the next 2 years. He will push for extention of the presidence two term policy as well, if he gets a democratic controlled house and senate in 2014 he will push for more years. Do I hate Obama NO, I fear him...
Posted by: rick on 1/11/2013
Wrong
Concerned Citizen,
From what I understand the people of Austria swore it would never happen there either, but t did.
Here are the facts: 60 years ago we had basically no gun control. You could walk into a gun store and buy a submachine gun with minimal or no background check, but school shootings didn't happen. In 2012 gun control was strict enough that I found myself unable to buy a pistol, with which I would have only shot tagets, just because I had recntly moved and hadn't updated my driver's license yet, but this guy walked into a school with his mothers guns and killed over 20 little kids.I'd say we have ample proof that gun control is not the answer to our proboems.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun and the only thing gun control does is keep guns away from potential good guys.
Posted by: Kris on 1/10/2013
Schooling
Harvey,
Local is right. No doubt, Sandbilly was home schooled!
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/10/2013
Assualt Weapons
Kelly,
Get a LIFE! All these worries about what could happen for nothing! We are NOT GERMANY!
I repeat, GET a LIFE! It will never happen here!
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/10/2013
Sandbilly's schooling
Local, my guess is that you're wrong about Sandbilly being home schooled. Sandbilly, what government schools did you attend and graduate from?
Posted by: Harvey on 1/10/2013
CC
CC,
Do you think Germany thought it would happen to them? The similarities between Obama and Hitler are chilling.
Posted by: Kelly on 1/10/2013
Funny
Sandbilly was no doubt 'Home Schooled.'
Posted by: Local on 1/9/2013
NEVER
Concerned Citizen,
When President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act of 1935, he said that benefits would never be taxed. Are they not taxed today? I don't believe we'll ever be in the same situation as Shindlers List here in the USA; however, you have to be naive to believe the government will respect all of its promises.
Posted by: AN on 1/9/2013
well
Sandbilly,
Do you ever take a breath? You wrote 11 lines without taking a breath and no period at the end of the rant. You don't have to be a scholar or to be articulate to have common sense in how a sentence and a paragraph is formed. Did you ever go to school?
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/9/2013
History
Kelly,
No matter fiction or not, it would NEVER happen in this country.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/9/2013
i love it....
i love the way these anonymous posts let people say what they wouldn't dream of saying if their -real- name was on the post. you're -all- missing the point. which is.... the people who saw it coming.... beforehand.... didn't speak up. in every case.... every time one of these tragedies happens.... it wouldn't matter if they had guns or bombs or knives or rocks.... in -every- case somebody should have spoken up.... beforehand. in -every- case. that.... the mind-your-own-business mentality.... that is the trouble. banning assault weapons won't change that.... when a kind word.... -might- have made all the difference.
Posted by: james McAllaster on 1/9/2013
History
Just so you know, CC, Shindler's List is a historical novel which describes actual people and events with fictional dialogue and scenes added by the author. It is very true. Are you a Holocaust denier?
Posted by: Kelly on 1/9/2013
well
Well I ain't no scholar nor am I articulate but there's something called horse sense out here in the real world are you going to pass a law against hurricanes there's such a thing called poop happens that's just life to have freedom you give a little every day you go out the door you take a chance of something happening the only thing is you either love this country as founded or get the he'll out take every thing you have and just leave try Greece or whatever country just leave US alone you probably don't know your food does not come from the grocery store it comes from hard workers I hear tell shelves in Russia are empty as for that empty shelf between your ears I got my info from CNN yahoo news and other sources I'm independent I don't believe in any one party there all corrupt which leads into people will kill anybody whatever fashion ever since the dawn of time clear up to now and the future and beyond you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink
Posted by: sandbilly on 1/8/2013
History?????
Rick,
That movie was NOT history! It was fiction! That would NEVER happen in America. There are NO Americans who want no guns for citizens. We just want Americans to be safe and as it is now, they are NOT safe!
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/8/2013
weapons
Sandbilly,
Fox told you wrong AGAIN! The man in China with a knife killed NO ONE! He injured several, but they are still ALIVE! Quit watching the lies on
FOX!
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on 1/7/2013
Learn from history
I watched a movie years ago, where only the military and police had guns, it was called Shindlers List, it did not work out the best for the citizens in that movie.
Posted by: rick on 1/7/2013
Good Lord
Sandbilly,
Please, for the love of God, stop helping. Go back to school and learn how to put together a sentence THEN come back and contribute to the conversation.
Posted by: Local on 1/6/2013
how stupld
How stupid is everybody that only takes away from law abiders if you read any news how many kids were killed in China and what with a knife instead of all these signs no weapons allowed we ought to have a sign right by it Tharp says use of deadly force will be used against miscreants
Posted by: sandbilly on 1/5/2013