Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 3 July 2008 — Page 2

Page 2 • The Muncie Times • July 3, 2008

EDITOEIAL

Despite court's decision, there is a need for sensible gun laws to protect the public

Last week, a divided U. S. Supreme Court narrowly ruled that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution allows private individuals to own handguns. Opponents had argued that the right to gun ownership was limited to militia forces. The decision on what the framers of the Constitution meant by the right to bear arms came from a Washington, D.C., court case. The plaintiff claimed that gun control laws in the District of Columbia violated the districts' residents' right

to bear arms. We disagree with the U. S. Supreme Court's decision and its reasoning. We believe that states, cities, counties and other local jurisdictions should have the right to control the availability of firearms. We are all too familiar with the tragedies associated with gun ownership. Virginia Tech, Columbine High School come readily to mind. They are constant reminders of the many people who have been killed, are being killed and will continue to be killed, mainly because

of the ready availability of firearms. Firearms take a daily toll on our streets, in our cities, counties and statements. There have been sniper killings, mass killings, random shootings, gang violence, fatal robberies, road rage incidents—all of which have resulted in fatalities. Children and adults, police and civilians, men and women, criminals and innocent bystanders or those who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, have died from gunshots. We agree with those

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MUNCIE TIMES STAFF

Publisher Bea Moten-Foster Editor John Lambkun Advertising Cathy Evans Graphics & Design Adrian Barrett Contributors: T.S. Kumbula, Debra Burnett, Jeanine Lee Lake, Hurley C. Goodall, Judy Mays, and Marc H. Morial Photographer Connie Stanton The Muncie Times is published twice monthly at 1304 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Muncie, IN47303. It covers the communities of Anderson, Marion, New Castle, Richmond, and Muncie. All editorial correspondence should be addressed to: The Editor, The Muncie Times, 1304 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Muncie, IN 47303. Telephone (765) 741-0037. Fax (765) 741-0040 email: themuncietimes @ Comcast, net

who feel we need gun controls to reduce gun violence. There are too many guns out there, some of them in the hands of irresponsible, reckless people, criminals and those who want to engage in anti-social behavior. There are too many arguments that end in deaths, injuries and maimings—because guns have become a shortcut solution to arguments and disagreements. Those who feel threatened or bullied, may readily resort to firearms to equalize their perceived disadvantages. A driver gets angry because another motorist cuts him/her off on the road, the highway or the freeway, the dispute quickly escalates. One or the other or both pull out a gun or guns and there is an old-fash-ioned shootout. If guns were not so readily available. Look at countries such as Japan, the United King, Japan, West Germany, Australia, Canada, etc., and you will be shocked by the small number of violent deaths. It is illustrative that in those countries, gun ownership is not part of the culture. There is little gun violence because guns are hard to come by.

We do not buy the claim that guns don't kill but people with guns do or those who claim that since cars also kill people they, too, should be banned, the fallacy of that argument fails to take into consideration that guns are designed to kill, whereas cars are designed to transport people—not kill them. We are not automatically opposed to those who want guns for hunting. Hunting is a legitimate sport, that is regulated and which does not target human being. Handguns and assault rifles are used on human beings—to kill, maim or wound them. We feel it is good public policy to control the availability of handguns and other non-hunting guns. We believe the Supreme Court was wrong headed in its division, which has put more of us at risk of being shot or killed. We hope the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, counties and cities will be able to fashion new laws to protect the public interest, reduce gun violence, while meeting the court's ruling. We do not want to see our cities get any more violent than they are today or see more people being shot because of the irresponsible use and abuse of firearms.