Ban handguns
Out of the ashes of tragedies can arise opportunities for significant change. There is no better example than the shootings at Northern Illinois University.
Can there be a more compelling reason for strict gun-control legislation than this catastrophe? The murder of these students having occurred during a presidential campaign creates the perfect forum for candidates to set forth their positions on how true gun control can be achieved.
But no candidate has made any meaningful statements to this effect.
Here is part of Sen. Clinton's response to the NIU shootings:
"We just have to figure out how we're going to get smart about protecting our kids because obviously we have to first and foremost do everything we can to take reasonable steps to keep our children safe and while safeguarding and respecting our Second Amendment rights"
Sen. Obama's reaction to the shooting has not been any more substantive than Sen. Clinton's. He was quoted by the AP as follows: "I think there is an individual right to bear arms, but it's subject to common-sense regulation."
Again, there it is again, the individual's right to bear arms. These responses are unacceptable. The solution does not lie in protecting an individual's rights to bear arms, a right that has never been determined by the Supreme Court as the true meaning of the Second Amendment.
The solution lies in federal laws, which would totally ban handguns, and would require extensive background checks, and prohibit the import of guns into our country, and more.
I implore Sens. Clinton and Obama, along with Sen. McCain and Gov. Huckabee, to seize this opportunity to offer our country and the bereft families of victims of gun violence more than condolences.
NINA D. HOFFMAN
Lavington Road
Charleston
