To the editor:
School shootings must stop. It is a very complex issue, but the murder of our most innocent children must come to an end. One facet of the problem is allowing weapons of mass destruction such as assault weapons to be available to the non-military and non-law enforcement individuals.
The Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to keep and bear arms, was crafted over 200 years ago. It was ratified on December 15, 1791, when the state-of-the-art weapon was the muzzle loaded rifle or handgun. Today’s weapons are incredibly lethal and capable of killing whole classrooms of our most vulnerable people.
We must, at the very least, curb the sales and ownership of all types of assault weapons to include the infamous AR-15 and assault types of clips that allow many rounds of fire. The AR-15, which hides behind the Second Amendment, was designed for one purpose and that is to kill humans. It is not a hunting rifle but a very efficient assault weapon.
The individuals responsible for this weapon are the lawmakers who commissioned its development and manufacture. The assault weapon is a necessary evil; however, assault weapons have no business in the hands of the public. We are all responsible when we vote for lawmakers who support and defend the right of non-military or non-law enforcement individuals to have and distribute these weapons. The answer is to get assault weapons off the street. Offer to buy them all back and send them to a war zone, not to our classrooms.
Joe Merickel, M.D.
Alexandria, MN
The Trust Project
