Keep guns from these killers

We must squeeze the pipeline that pumped nearly 40 million new guns into America last year. The reduction in gun sales through precise and narrow restrictions and reforms will not take anyone’s guns or infringe on their right to own guns, but it will help prevent weapons from getting into evil hands intent on inflicting mass casualties in America’s streets and supermarkets.

First, we must limit the kinds of new guns being sold. Banning assault rifles is one route that could work, and we encourage Congress to pass a new and improved version of the 1994 assault weapons ban.

However, it is important to note, that the U.S. Supreme Court may strike such a ban down, as it struck down a handgun ban in the District of Columbia v. Heller ruling noting that the Second Amendment prevents the government from banning weapons “in common use at the time.” Well, the floodgates have been open for so long that it’s hard to argue that the millions of assault rifles in the U.S. are not in common use. We’ll let constitutional legal scholars grapple with that precedent in court.

So what else should lawmakers do? Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, purchased a Ruger AR-556 pistol six days before he is suspected of opening fire in a Boulder King Soopers grocery store killing 10 people.

Robert Aaron Long, 21, purchased a 9mm hand gun the same day he is suspected of going from spa to spa in Atlanta, killing eight people.

We think a waiting period for gun sales could help, especially when paired with universal background checks and a federal red flag law that allow court-orders to bar certain individuals from buying or possessing weapons even across state lines. A more robust federal background check registry must be funded.

All semi-automatic weapons should be required to have fixed cartridges that must be reloaded one bullet at a time, instead of quick-release cartridges that allow a shooter to reload a new magazine quickly. And Congress should enact a magazine size limit similar to the 15 bullet limit implemented in Colorado after James Holmes used a 100 round magazine to slaughter 12 people and injure 70 others in an Aurora movie theater.

This is not new technology. In fact, gun manufacturers currently sell guns with fixed magazines to comply with California laws, and a product is available on the market to convert guns with a quick-release magazine to fixed magazines.

Americans who have semi-automatic weapons with detachable magazines should be encouraged to modify them.

Those measures will have some impact, but it won’t be enough.

Depending on the count, there are somewhere between 350 million and 450 million guns in America. People should be held criminally liable if their gun is used in a homicide — this includes whether the gun is stolen or legally sold.

Those wishing to resell their guns must exercise the type of caution appropriate knowing that the weapon could be used in a homicide and they could be held accountable for the transaction.

Those storing weapons will have an added incentive to purchase a secure gun locker that cannot be moved, and yet, those who have reasonable cause to keep a loaded weapon nearby will weigh the decision appropriately given the alternative risk of being held responsible if that gun is taken and used to kill someone.

There are so many guns in America today that it makes sense to squeeze the market and see if that can make our communities safer, while still allowing responsible individuals to purchase weapons for hunting, shooting, and self-defense.

Members of The Denver Post’s editorial board are Megan Schrader, editor of the editorial pages; Lee Ann Colacioppo, editor; Justin Mock, CFO; Bill Reynolds, general manager/ senior vp circulation and production; Bob Kinney, vice president of information technology; and TJ Hutchinson, systems editor.