Guns blazin'

There are some issues, such as illegal immigration, that Democrats won’t even touch with a 10-foot pole. No issue proves to be as divisive for the party, however, as gun control. Indeed, the last serious debate over gun violence occurred more than 15 years ago with the passage of the Brady Bill. Occasionally, this long and shameful silence has been punctuated with incidents like the Virginia Tech tragedy, when legislators promise stricter gun regulations. Cosmetic changes are made, and yet, we often get reminders on how far we have to go. \nThe Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence just released its annual “report card” rating states’ efforts to prevent criminals from obtaining guns. Not surprisingly, Indiana was ranked near the very bottom. The state scored a dismal eight points (out of 100) for gun-control laws, and this should give us all pause. \nFor one, Indiana has no restrictions on the sale of assault weapons or military-style semiautomatic firearms. According to law enforcement officials, such firearms are the “weapon of choice” for drug traffickers, gangs and paramilitary extremist groups. Recognizing the dangers posed by assault weapons, Congress in 1994 passed the Federal Assault Weapons Act, which restricted the sale of assault weapons in the United States. However, Congress conveniently allowed the act to expire in 2004. \nAdditionally, Indiana does not require universal background checks on gun sales. As a result, residents who purchase guns over the Internet or at gun shows are not subjected to any checks or verification. Perhaps more alarming is that the state does not require guns to be registered with law enforcement agencies, making it harder to trace criminals. So, when gun-owners whine about how Democrats want to take away their guns, I only wish that were true. In reality, the current political debate has been very kind to Second Amendment activists. \nAnyone who wants to understand the reason for this should just follow the money. The National Rifle Association remains the most powerful lobby in Washington, contributing more than $16 million to political campaigns since 1990. This radical organization has actively campaigned against any form of gun control, despite the fact that two-thirds of Americans support such efforts. In the past, NRA officials have suggested that arming teachers can help “protect students.” Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the NRA, even claimed that if airline pilots had been allowed to carry guns, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks could have been prevented. And just in case anyone feels left out, the NRA strongly opposed a bill that would ban the sale of firearms to suspected terrorists. \nThe good people over at NRA deserve special recognition, though. They have been successful in framing gun-ownership as an individual right, even though the Constitution doesn’t explicitly state this. In fact, a careful reading of the Second Amendment indicates the right to own a gun is a collective right, not an individual right. Ultimately, while gun control laws might not help eradicate criminal actions, they can make such occurrences rarer. And in the end, this is all that matters.