The tragic attack by Jared Loughner in Tucson on January 8, 2011 on Representative Gabrielle Giffords and crowd members was horrifying. Soon after the attack, advocates for gun reform began calling for stricter gun control measures, using the Tucson attack as their prime example for why such reform was needed. Specifically, they cited the fact that the shooter obtained his gun and high-capacity magazine legally as a reason to implement new measures limiting gun ownership.
Some of the gun reform proposals made in Congress are:
1. Representative Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), proposed a bill on that would outlaw having a firearm within 1,000 feet of a member of Congress.
2. Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) proposed a bill to bar the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines, such as the one used in the shooting.
3. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) said he will pursue similar legislation to that proposed by Rep. McCarthy in the Senate.
4. Representative Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) is proposing legislation to close the so-called "gun show loophole," (the myth that gun shows are responsible for a large number of firearms falling into the hands of criminals).
None of these reforms would have prevented Loughner from shooting Rep. Giffords, killing six innocent people and wounding many others. Loughner purchased his gun and high-capacity magazine legally under Arizona laws. He carried the gun in public to a public event and opened fire. I’m certain his actions would have been the same had these laws been in effect on the day of the shooting.
Individuals who are dedicated to committing heinous acts with guns are not going to pay attention to gun reform laws. They will pursue their goals no matter what the laws say they can and can not do. Prime example, murder, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon are all crimes in the state of Arizona, yet Loughner still opened fire on Rep. Giffords and the crowd on that fateful day.
Furthermore, the Tucson shooting was an isolated incident by a mentally ill young man. We as a country should not restrict the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens because one disturbed man acted alone. All Americans, gun owners and gun reformists alike were horrified on the day of the Tucson shooting. Guns owners did not rejoice at this tragedy – nor are they dismissing it by opposing gun reform.
Here’s my take on why the above referenced gun reform proposals will not prevent another Tucson-esque shooting:
1. Rep. King’s proposal – Unless Congressmen and Congresswomen are going to place metal detectors 1,000 feet from their person at every single public event outside of secure buildings (like the Congress building or their offices in D.C.) it will be impossible to enforce this law. Realistically, a passerby with a concealed carry gun who unknowingly walks within 1,000 feet of a member of Congress would be in violation of this law. Would each Congressperson have a detail of security patting down individuals within the 1,000 foot radius looking for guns? Do you know/recognize everyone by name within 1,000 feet of you at all times?
2. Rep. McCarthy and Sen. Lautenberg’s proposals - Loughner could have still shot, killed or wounded potentially 15+1 individuals with a regular-capacity magazine.* If he had reloaded his gun with a fresh regular-capacity magazine, he still could have fired a similar number of bullets. This proposal is ineffectual and fails to look at the nature of the incident itself – a disturbed young man opened fire on a Congresswoman and a crowd and would have despite any laws on the books.
3. Rep. Ackerman’s proposal – His proposal is to fix a myth. Need I say more?
I hope and pray that the families of those wounded at the Tucson shooting recover swiftly and completely. My deepest sympathies go out to those families that lost loved ones at the hands of mad man. However, I sincerely believe the proposed gun reforms will not prevent similar events in the future. Individuals intent on destroying human life will do so despite any laws on the books. One only has to look at Loughner, suicide bombers, terrorists, drug runners and other criminals who take innocent lives for proof. Americans need to be able to protect themselves from such mayhem and deadly chaos.
*The gun Loughner used was a Glock 19 with a 33 round high-capacity magazine; the standard magazine for a Glock 19 is a 15 round regular-capacity magazine according to the manufacturer’s website. www.glock.com/english/index_magazines.htm
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