The US Government and most states already add to minimum sentecnes for firearms use in crimes (not really sure why a firearms is any more threatening that a golf club, in most situtations anyway).
Well, I guess the same logic must apply if an unauthorized person talkes the family car, butcher knife, prescription meds etc and uses them illegally as well. Certainly there is a reasonable amount of care and concern in securing/preventing all of the above “things” as wellas firearms from inappropriate use, but then let laws relflect the concept, not the individual item.
there is so much negative press concerning firearms, we all to often forget that vast numbers of our populace maintina, use and keep firearms of every flavor with no harm or foul to the neighbor-kinda like most other things....
Demonize and punish criminals, not the things they use or take; we the people cannot afford to surrender every freedom and individual liberty for some purported feel-good security.
I am responsible for my own safety, not the government; I possess/carry a firearms since it is my decision making that employs it and besides, cops are too smelly and heavy to carry (nor do I trust anyone else for my safety or that of my loved ones).
Lastly, this whole event is not very relevant to my right to self-defense anyway; the US Constitution and the BOR does not grant me anything, rather “in order to form a more perfect union....”; I have already been granted these rights among others by my Creator, it (we) grant the government certain powers that are specifically restricted and can be even more so.
MOLON LABE
God Bless
Sorry for the poor typing-I must turn on that pesky spell check....
Mea Culpa...