Ugh.

If this nation’s founders could witness us trying to parse the text of the 2^nd amendment into a basis of arms regulation today, they would either laugh or cry (or probably both, they were a mixed lot!)   On the day the 2^nd amendment was written the height of military technology was the muzzle loading rifled musket, hostile and well-armed foreign powers and aboriginal peoples sat just beyond poorly defined western borders, and any assistance could only come at walking pace.  And yet some how we don’t question the idea that the 2^nd amendment was the last word when it comes to arms regulation, and that it is appropriate to stretch it around everything from handguns to nuclear weapons.   

The founders would call us idiots – in slightly more polite language – and then explain, slowly and in small words, that their laws were meant for their time, and that they gave us the means and intended that we update our governance to fit our times.  In their times they had to fear madmen, but not a madman armed with killing machines of incredible efficiency.  Does anyone think that if Adam Lanza had walked into an elementary school with a muzzle loading musket that 26 people would be dead?

In a limited sense the gun rights people are correct: there will always be deranged people dedicated to the commission of mass crimes.  No laws will stop them.  However you can limit the damage they can do by making it difficult to obtain weapons of excessive efficiency.  Making it harder will reduce the incidents and their lethality.  

Virtually everyone agrees in prohibition of arms at some level.  I know of no one who thinks surface to air missiles should be readily available to the public.  The difference between the most ardent guns right supporter and the gun control activist is only where to draw the line.  This is what I think:  there are two reasonable uses of guns: personal protection and hunting/sport.  Neither semi-automatic versions of assault rifles, or handguns with 13 round clips than can be reloaded in seconds, are essential for either of these purposes.  It’s time for them to go. 

Will anything significant come of this tragedy?  No, arms regulation in this country is written and promoted by the well-funded lobbying arm of the gun manufacturers and dealers, masquerading as a grass-roots organization.  Its intent is always and exclusively to maximize the profitability of its funders.  How did we get to a world were our representatives hold their allegiance to gun dealers and Grover Norquist above their oath to us?  We all know that answer to that.  Before we can fix anything in this country, we need to first fix the campaign finance system, so that our leaders can represent the people’s interests alone.  Gun dealers and  Norquist deserve their say, but they aren't entitled to drown out the voices of the rest of us.