As a father first and foremost and then the owner of V.I.P. Home & Yard, my single goal in life is to ensure my children are safe. As a family with young children, the tragedy at Sandy Hook is very close to our collective hearts. Our prayers and thoughts are with the parents, sisters, brothers, family, emergency responders and the community that this terrible atrocity was unleashed upon. As a business owner in a small community, safe communities benefit everyone.
The issues of this and the other mass atrocities that have happened in the USA are complex. The only connection that I can grasp is that they all had semi automatic assault-type rifles in common and high capacity magazines that can unleash multiple bullets in a single second. A similar tragedy happened in central China’s Henan Province setting off panic in the village on December 14 however the attacker used a knife. This was also an atrocity however it resulted in 22 children and an 85- year old woman suffering non life threatening injuries.While both events are horrific and mental issues are obviously in common to both. The lethal speed at which the US shooter could cause so much carnage in such incredible speed is a huge point of differentiation .
The Sandy Hook event tragedy raises a question that is difficult to pose, although it must be asked for the greater good. Semi Automatic guns and high capacity ammunition enabled the Sandy Hook shooter to fire aimlessly and indiscriminately at children at lighting speed.
I lived in the U.S.A. for six years and some of the most wonderful time of my life has been spent with friends and family there. While I do not fully understand the fascination with guns, I did come to appreciate it. For most recreational gun owners they enjoy this as a hobby and exercise caution. However very few use or care to own semi-automatic firearms. The second amendment of the USA constitution is “right of the people to keep and bear arms” . The USA forefathers never imagined or could have known semi automatic or high capacity magazines would be something that would arise. I am sure that they would change this in a heart beat if they could have only known. It is impractical to ban firearms completely or change the constitution. A ban on semi-automatic weapons and high capacity magazine cartridges must be enacted.
The average sportsman, farmer or recreational person has no need for a firearm that is semi automatic or needs a high capacity magazine. Decisive action MUST be taken by both Republicans and Democrats of the USA. President Obama in his second term of and last term of office has to act on this important issue. As a second term President there is no votes to covet or political upside in not acting. Propose amendments and end this folly of allowing semi automatic weapons and high capacity cartridges
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Seamus Gardiner
Owner and Founder of V.I.P. Home & Yard
