This week, we asked readers their thoughts on the possibility of banning assault weapons, and what is driving the opposition by some to banning the use by civilians of weapons of war.

 

 

“Assault weapons or machine guns shouldn’t be in the hands of regular citizens; they should only be used by the military, but all citizens should be able to own handguns and rifles. No one should be dying. Lawmakers should just take some action. They should just make the right choice. My thinking is if you know the history of how the police first began, they were formed to protect businesses. I don’t believe that police protect citizens, because when crime happens the police come after. They’re not there to protect the people the moment that it’s happening. As citizens, I think we have the right to police ourselves and protect our families.”

Paul Diaz,

Norwood

 

“Of course, assault weapons should be banned, because during the elections the politicians get money from those people, the companies that make the arms. That’s why they don’t want to ban them. This has been very harmful in the last couple of years after the [presidential] election and Biden’s administration came in. Every day you see something happens in a school in the State, all over the place. They should be banned, and it should be limited to which people really need it, and an inquiry done into their backgrounds and then give the arms to the people, not just sell arms to the people. That’s why this is a business for the arms factory and the manufacturers. It’s just a business. No regular citizen should have a machine gun.”

Muhammad M. Ali,

Norwood

 

“We’re living in the 21st century and there is absolutely no logical reason to allow the unregulated sale of assault weapons. They can’t be used for hunting because of the damage [they] causes to the flesh of the hunted animal. Assault weapons have no place in a civil society. They pose a great danger to law enforcement and when lawmen are afraid to act, we get a Uvalde-type response… The fetish with weapons of mass destruction in this country is indicative of a disturbed society. Think of these politicians and their Christmas postcards featuring themselves and family members – under age children included – armed with assault weapons. A Christmas card!”

Angel Chevrestt,

Illinois via Mott Haven

 

“Assault weapons have proven that they are in the wrong places and in the wrong hands, and until people change their minds about gun control, these incidents will continue to happen. Until that happens, each school needs additional security. We are living in a world today that is all about money and those that know that are keeping that hold on others from doing what is correct for all of us.”

Barbara Gibson,

Olinville

 

“I’m in support of saving the lives of second graders more than supporting the second amendment. The opposition comes from people thinking that a school shooting can’t happen at their child’s school. We all know that schools aren’t safe. I try to put it out of my head like most parents do, but we are all living in fear. We’ve just gotten used to it. The living with fear part is my hope that assault weapons become banned in this country.”

Sammie Werkheiser,

Upstate NY