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Anytime students are shot by a deranged killer it is a political issue. If this type of thing is not a political issue we might as well fold up the government now and save our money.

Of course the obvious political issue revolves around gun control laws, or lack thereof, which helps keep the American murder rate at the top among Western nations. Of the previous ten school shootings, world-wise, the United States claims eight. The list of school shootings over the last ten years is, unfortunately, predominantly American. Should a society that seems to easily produce too many twisted, misfit killers also have lose gun control laws?

For every person thankful to President Bush for letting the assault weapons ban expire there are many more mourning the loss of a loved-one. I can't think of any reason why anyone needs to own a semi-automatic weapon. Is that to kill someone breaking into your home armed with another semi-automatic weapon? Does this not beg the question? Was the NRA's insane response that the Virginia Tech shootings would have been nullified if *all*students could carry a gun not indicate a severe lack of discourse on this issue?

Please do not tell me that in the realm of responsibility and leadership vacated by our politicians is being filled by NRA fanatics who claim that owning weapons is a second amendment right, the aim of which is to keep the government in-check. Who still thinks that a few zealots with automatic weapons will keep the government from going too far? A government armed with tanks, bombers, and nuclear capability?

Rights should be reflections on society as a whole. While the vast majority of gun owners are responsible the sheer numbers of weapons in this country makes unfortunate consequences a sad inevitability. The ultimate American right is, or should be, life. This is followed by liberty. Perhaps Jefferson was saying something profound by putting them in that order.

Learn more about this author, Fred Krone.
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