U.S. could restrict automatic weapons

There are two problems when it comes to figuring out what to do with automatic weapons in the United States — one practical and one political.

The practical problem is that you must ban their import, manufacture, sale and distribution, but the country is already soaked in them. You can’t go door-todoor to confiscate them, as they could be hidden or the owners could put up armed resistance.

The government knew it couldn’t stop the public from smoking, but it could control it by putting restrictions on age and location. Extrapolate that to automatic weapons. Pass a law restricting the automatic weapon owner to keeping it on their private property. This is a game changer. Now the public, family, friends and law enforcement have the legal tool to stop a potential massacre before it happens. If the deadly weapon was taken off the property, it would be confiscated and the owner arrested and referred to the court system for mental evaluation, fined or jailed. Owners would also have the option of turning over their weapons to law enforcement for a tax receipt.

The second problem is getting this passed into law. Politicians and National Rifle Association have their own agenda and would tie it up forever. The solution is for the public to demand statewide referendums. What could be more American than that?

States that pass it, great. Those that don’t would have only themselves to blame, not the politicians.

Gregg Hanaka, Windsor