There’s no doubt that the information being spread in the media about gun violence is exaggerated, and the intent is to swing public opinion in favor of gun control. However, even though the statistics are being stretched, there is no doubt that we have to do something to eliminate these senseless killings that are happening in our country.
My fear is that the authorities are going to impose ineffective, knee-jerk regulations that will do nothing to reduce crime, but will cause hardship for legal gun owners.
Congress is already looking at a bill called the Assault Weapons Ban of 2018. However, it goes far beyond so-called assault weapons. This bill would ban all semi-automatic firearms with removable magazines – including semi-automatic handguns.
Bills like this will do very little to reduce crime. In fact, in my opinion, they will increase it. Criminals will not respect the law – that’s why they’re criminals. They will continue to use these banned firearms, putting law-abiding citizens and our police forces at increased risk.
On the other hand, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and several other groups are pushing for Congress to support the Fix NICS Act. This bill would improve the current background check system to make sure people who shouldn’t have access to guns don’t slip through the cracks. Yes, it’s a more invasive probe into our lives, but it’s necessary if we want to keep guns out of the hands of potential criminals. And it’s a good first step to helping us keep our rights.
