Connecticut’s Republican leaders have disappointed us in supporting the state's new gun legislation. The law will only harm the legal gun owner with its attempt to thwart ammunition sales, not to mention its disregard of the Second Amendment. Since the tragedy in Newtown, ammunition is virtually nonexistent on the shelves of gun dealers throughout Connecticut and the nation. Even when it is available, it’s at a much higher price. Anti-gun bills, on top of the U.S. government dramatically spiking up its purchases of ammunition, has done more to infringe on the rights of legal gun owners than in any other time in history.
Now owning an ammunition clip that exceeds the law’s maximum capacity will turn law-abiding citizens into felons if the clip is not registered. Seriously?
Sad, though, is the near-sighted nature of this bill. What stops anyone from going to a nearby state and acquiring ammunition without proof of the so called “eligibility certificate?” What stops someone from going to another state to buy a 30-round clip? Why is it illegal for me to own a large size clip or a particular weapon for self defense in my home? In most instances, guns are used for sport and home protection, not for the evil of people who don’t care about the law. Most criminals don’t acquire a gun legally in any event.
It seems the more laws government chokes the people with, the more ways people find a way to circumvent it. Look at Prohibition and today’s battle with marijuana. Does anyone really pay attention to the speed limit, red lights, seat belts and cell phone laws? All of which have lead to many more senseless deaths than guns.
In November the elected officials of Connecticut can falsely hold their heads high and say “they voted for stricter gun laws; the most strict in the country.” The problem is, we already had one of the strictest laws and a tragedy still happened.
Richard Evans
Guilford