Blog: Gun Tragedy

Statement

The national spotlight right now is on the disturbed young man who opened fire in a Colorado theater, killing and injuring 70 people. Our nation's latest shooting tragedy. Rather than reacting to the "latest" tragedy we should be engaged in an effort to get the weapons of mass destruction -- guns intended to kill people -- out of our society.

The media is engaged in an orgy of questions about why this particular shooting happened. It happened for the same reason every other shooting happens. Gun tragedies always have one thing in common. Guns.

The Democratic and Republican candidates for President both believe existing laws on gun control are good enough. Existing laws allow assault weapons and massive rounds of ammunition to be sold to anyone who wants them. In Colorado people can carry guns openly, do not need a permit or license to purchase them, and guns are not registered.

All guns should be regulated as much as cars are. The Violence Policy Center reports that ninety percent of American households own a car while fewer than a third own firearms, yet in Colorado alone in 2009 there were more gun deaths than vehicle deaths: 583 gun deaths, 565 motor vehicle deaths. The same was true of nine other states.

As with cars, people should have to register their gun purchase, be educated about using it safely, have to buy insurance against the possibility of damage to people or property caused by its use, and guns for hunting should have improved safety mechanisms. In addition, every gun purchaser should have a background check, no loop holes, no exceptions. We need to reinstate the ban on assault weapons. They are designed with one purpose, to kill people, and have no place in a peaceful society.

The 5th district incumbent says, "Let's have a conversation about guns." I say, "Let's have sensible gun regulations and reduce the number of gun tragedies."

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