GUN CONTROL

When I was a teenager my father bought me a rifle to hunt in my grandparents back eight acres and when I was in the Air Force it was a requirement to become proficient on the M-16. I was fairly good with the rifle but I never liked the the power and kick of the M-16 ... what can I say.. I'm a wimp!

Guns make me uncomfortable and I can not find a reason today to own one, but just because I do not feel the need doesn't mean that other responsible, law abiding citizens should not have the right to own guns.

What does not make sense to me is why we cannot have strict regulation on who can and cannot have a gun, restrictions on the sale of weapons, background checks, mandatory safety classes, etc.

There is no middle of the road feeling on this issue for most people. It is either the take all the guns away and melt them down fraidy-cats or crazies who think they have the right to own 15 machine guns and be able to carry them to the local tavern.

If family man Frank feels the need to protect his family with a firearm, he should be allowed to do so without interference from the government. If Harry the hunter wants to go deer hunting to put food on his family's table he should be allowed to do so.

If gang banger George has a record of violent offenses and walks into a firearms store or convention to buy a piece, he should be turned away. Sure he may eventually find a way to get one but it will take him a little time and in that time a life may have been spared.

Americans (as the recent World News article points out) are not the only people with guns. The citizenry of other countries own them too but perhaps more responsibly. Is it because the governments of these other countries more closely regulate gun ownership or is it because the citizens of those countries are smarter?

I'm hoping it is as simple as Sensible Gun Control....