The Constitution contains statements about our God-given rights and enumerates freedoms that we have in the United States, including the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
Over time, these rights have become restricted as laws – such as those prohibiting felons from possessing guns, requiring background checks, or setting a minimum age to own a firearm – have been passed.
After each tragic act of violence, one response is usually to encourage gun ownership so that a “good guy with a gun” can stop a “bad guy with a gun.” The other is to crack down on gun rights across-the-board by banning types of guns and banning some people from owning them altogether.
People cry out for their government to “fix” the issue through legislation; to just do something. Thus, the special session of the General Assembly was convened, and a number of bills were filed that would ban so-called “assault weapons” such as hunting rifles, create mandatory waiting periods, and all but prohibit private sales.
Here's the problem with that approach: gun control laws are intended to stop murder – but murder is already illegal. For the majority of mass murderers, more laws will not stop the behavior, and might even cause them to commit violence with other tools, like knives, vehicles, or bombs.
You know it, I know it, and so do many of the conservative candidates running for the General Assembly this year. Their focus? The motivation and mental illness behind the action… and they’re right. What causes a person to commit acts of massive violence? How can we stop violence at the source without taking away the rights of law-abiding people like you and me?
We encourage you to support candidates who protect our rights, and take to task those candidates who want to take those rights away. After the bill listing below we have added prompts and resources to assist you in telling
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