Gun Control Debate Rages In Aftermath of Sandy Hook Massacre
In the wake of the terrible massacre in Newtown, Conneticut, Democrats (and many Republicans) are pushing for the return of an assault weapons ban.
Proponents of the ban say assault weapons were made with military use in mind, not civilian use.
It has been widely reported that Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza used an assault rifle last Friday morning, when he murdered 26 people, including 20 first graders.
Gun rights activists remained largely quiet on the issue, all but one declining to appear on the Sunday talk shows. Meanwhile, Democrats vowed action and said it was time to hear from voters — not gun lobbyists — on how to prevent the next shooting.
The time for “saying that we can’t talk about the policy implications of tragedies like this is over,” said Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy, who won a Senate seat in the November elections.
Speaking Sunday night at a vigil in Newtown, President Barack Obama did not specifically address gun control. But he vowed, “In the coming weeks I’ll use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens, from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this.”
Do you support a ban on assault weapons?
Would such a ban go far enough?
Does gun control address our country’s violent culture?
Sound off below!
