New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is calling on President Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney to propose stricter gun control laws following last week's which left 12 people dead and 59 wounded in Colorado, The Huffington Post reports.
“This really is an enormous problem for the country, and it's up to these two presidential candidates," Bloomberg said, according to the Huffington Post. "They want to lead this country,and they've said things before that they're in favor of banning things like assault weapons. Where are they now and why don't they stand up? And if they want our votes, they better.”
According to The Huffington Post, the alleged Colorado shooter, James Holmes, acquired his arsenal of weapons, ammunition and body armor over several months from the Internet and brick-and-mortar stores alike. His purchases did not raise any red flags.
Proponents of gun rights, however, argue that a vast majority of gun owners are law-abiding citizens and that criminals who commit these kinds of massacres aren't obeying laws already in place, so wouldn't obey stricter ones either.
Dudley Brown, executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, commented on Holmes' 6,000 rounds of ammunition for an assault rifle.
"If I only had 6,000 rounds for my AR-15s, I'd literally feel naked," Brown said, according to The Huffington Post. Holmes' arsenal included "two handguns, a shotgun and a rifle. That's the average male in Colorado."
So, no, if anything, we need FEWER restrictions.
Dave 10:04 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012 No. Reply Delete Abe 5 hours ago "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." -Thomas Jefferson Reply Delete Watts 2 hours ago Abe, not clear if you quoted that believing their was some relevance still left to that quote or to show just how out out of date that thinking is.
Re: thousands - How so, indeed. I'm sure you're familiar with what's become known as the "helmet paradox" - sometimes, actions taken to promote safety can actually induce risk. Likewise (and speaking of car safety): as someone in land use, I'm sure you're also familiar with the work of the late Hans Monderman. In economics, a related principle is typically called "moral hazard."