Improved Gun Control For The United States

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From Obama's FB page

In a press conference held Monday, January 14 2013, Barack Obama, days before the start of his second term as President of the United States of America, has announced plans to improve gun control in his country.

To the outside world, this seems like the most sensible thing to do.  He is not suggesting revoking the second amendment right to bear arms.  He wants to ban semi-automatic assault rifles, extend the waiting period to purchase firearms, improve background checks, put more counsellors in schools and provide better access to mental health care.

Americans would still have the right to bear arms, just not the kind that can kill 20 people in less than 2 minutes.

Of course, the National Rifle Association (NRA) is completely against these proposed changes.  Interesting to note that until 2004, there was a prohibition against semi-automatic machine guns, so while they try to cry infringement on constitutional rights, the right to own an assault rifle doesn't date back to the forefathers...

I simply don't understand this organisation.

When I read over Obama's plan, every point seems purely logical to me.

What foot you can stand on to defend the right to own a Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle like the one used by Adam Lanza to kill 26 people?!

The right to bear arms was meant as a way to insure that every citizen had a right to protect themselves, and their land. 

However, it is becoming less about one individual's rights and more about the general public's right to feel safe.

I'm not suggesting that guns be banned all together (though I wouldn't personally be upset), but I am suggesting that the NRA is being irresponsible in this instance by not working with the President in his efforts to restore public safety.

I have lost count of the number of mass shootings in the States over the past year.  I have lost count of the number of lives that were lost because of inefficient and outdated laws.  The American constitution has been in effect since 1789, and has been amended 27 times since then.  Why? Because some of the things that were written 200+ years ago have nothing to do with today's was of life.  Did assault riffles even exist then?

Better and deeper background checks might have kept assault riffles out of the hands of Adam Lanza and James Holmes. 

A ban on assault riffles might have saved the 38 people the two of them killed.

For these people, it's too late for should have beens and could have beens, but it's not too late for the next batch.

Maybe, just maybe, if the US government actually works together, for the people, instead of against each other for their own individual agendas, maybe the next batch could be saved.

Maybe the next Adam Lanza would have better access to mental health care.  Maybe he would send off flags when he tried to purchase three tons of ammunition. 

Maybe...