An assault weapon is a wonderful item to have — in combat. When used properly, by military personnel, it provides an attacking force the ability to place maximum, sustained, firepower on an enemy position, thus allowing the attacking force the ability to close with, capture or kill the enemy. Since there are no known enemy positions occupying any part of this country, they should have no place in our society, except in the hands of trained professionals, i.e., military or law enforcement personnel. Any fool, or “wantabe Rambo” or “Dirty Harry” can point an assault weapon and pull the trigger. Most of these “wantabes” have no conception of what happens to a bullet once it’s been fired. Unless you have spent time on a known distance range, at night, firing tracer rounds, you have no idea what some bullets do after they leave the rifle barrel.  

Isn’t it ironic the organizations that are required to use guns, the military and law enforcement agencies, all practice gun control? Yet, mention gun control and the NRA and every “wantabe” starts yelling, “the big bad liberal government is trying to take our guns away.” The NRA is doing its members a disservice when it takes this conspiracy theory position. There really is a difference between gun ownership and gun control.

It would be my preference to see the outright outlawing of all military type weapons, high capacity clips/magazines and handguns, from the civilian segment of our society.  However, if the courts, under the Second Amendment rights, do not allow such, then I would propose regulating the sale of ammunition. The NRA is right, guns do not kill, but bullets do. Require all ammunition be purchased through a government agency, such as the local police department, and require all ammunition to have a traceable identification. Ammunition could also be sold, for immediate use only, at a registered firing range. We all know there are millions of bullets already out there, but the regulation could have a grace period, such as setting a date in the future, where it would be unlawful to possess unregulated ammo. This would allow gun owners time to use up the ammunition they have on hand.

I would also like to see gun control on hand guns.  I can see individuals wanting to have a hand gun to protect themselves from home invasions.  But hand guns have no place on our streets or Walmart parking lots. No one should be allowed to carry a concealed hand gun.

People who leave their property with any type of gun, to go hunting, to a firing range or some other reason, should only do so once the gun is rendered safe, such as removing the firing mechanism. The gun can be rendered operable once the individual gets to his/her intended destination. Anyone caught with a gun not rendered in-operable at other locations should be arrested, have the gun(s) confiscated, and lose their rights to own a gun in the future. 

 

Lonny Badeaux  

(Maj. LANG Ret.)

New Iberia