Two articles referenced below that both address the issue of guns in the United States. In last night's speech to the Urban League in New Orleans, LA, President Obama said, "Gun laws should be common sense" and “I also believe that a lot of gun owners would agree that AK-47s belong in the hands of soldiers not in the hands of criminals, that they belong on the battlefield of war not on the streets of our cities.” The President supports tougher standards on background checks to prevent the mentally unstable and criminals from obtaining these weapons.
Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate running against Mr. Obama, said, "Well this person shouldn't have had any kind of weapons and bombs and other devices and it was illegal for him to have many of those things already. But he had them." We can sometimes hope that just changing the law will make all bad things go away. It won't. Changing the heart of the American people may well be what's essential, to improve the lots of the American people."
I think both men make sense with their comments. As long as we have such an appetite for guns in our country, the onus is on the industry and local, State and federal governments working together to find the safest way to regulate purchases of reasonable hand guns and firearms. Obama's point is common sense to take stronger steps to screen gun buying applicants. Romney's point is also well-taken in that we can make the laws tougher, but it can't stop every deranged person who's hell bent on hurting people.
Romney claims that the weapons used in the shooting last Friday night were illegal, but he is incorrect. Various media reports have established that all of the weapons purchased where done so legally. Legally acquired weapons, then used in an obvious illegal way.
I doubt President Obama will use any tougher language let alone make gun reform much of an issue on the campaign trail. Politically, it too toxic to really get involved with right now. On the other hand, I think if Mitt Romney would come out soon for tougher screenings, and a ban on assault weapons being sold to the general public, it would serve him surprisingly well with the undecided independent voters who will largely determine which man is sworn in to office next January. I don't think for a second Romney will do any such thing, regardless of the optics for the indies. The optics to his own base, which have been shaky since before day one, would not be well received to say the least.
Sources:
http://www.nationaljournal.com//whitehouse/obama-gun-laws-should-be-common-sense--20120726
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