Evidence based gun control ~ like Australia

An echo letter to the editor published in the Press of Atlantic City in Pleasantville, New Jersey.

Obviously, Republicans do not know how to respond to the growing morbidity and mortality caused by gun violence in America.  Therefore, look to Australia. Indeed, the Aussies are a role model for common sense gun control. It has been 20 years since Australia has had an incident of mass gun violence. 

Rapid-fire guns were banned throughout Australia after an event known as the Port Arthur massacre, a mass shooting left 35 people dead and 19 wounded. The shocking rampage, in a quiet town in southeastern Tasmania, prompted lawmakers to enact the National Firearms Agreement.

Bullets don't discriminate ~ end gun violence

When "down under" government acted, the evidence demonstrated how the incidence of gun violence was dramatically reduced.  Moreover, overall homicide rates also fell.

In other words, proof that it's "guns that kill people". In fact, guns really do kill and when there are an absence of them, the death rate caused by gun violence correlates accordingly. Here is an echo, a letter to the editor, blogged to demonstrate this point: 

A letter from Claude Delaverdac:

I am devastated over the recent Florida school shooting (at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida ~ an incident that happened on February 14, 2018). 

Why is America so powerless to stop these senseless tragedies? Why do we tolerate politicians with their standard obfuscation of the issue? The problem is as obvious as the emperor’s new clothes. There are too many guns and it is ridiculously easy to get them.

The NRA (National Rifle Association) needs to get over its paranoia about losing the Second Amendment. 

People are not trying to take away hunting rifles. Better background checks and improved coordination of information among various agencies may help, but assault weapons should be the exclusive domain of law enforcement and the military. These deadly weapons of mass destruction are not toys for the adventurous and the malevolent.

The Second Amendment begins, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state.” An anachronism? Our forefathers couldn’t possibly have imagined the insanity of modern society.

We can stop this. Keep talking about it. Don’t let the good intentions of young people fade out until the next such incident, which won’t be long. People should let elected officials know they are mad as hell and will hold them accountable until they act.

In Australia, people were gunned down by a mass murderer in 1996. The government reacted swiftly, banning rapid fire guns and implementing two mandatory buyback programs. The result? There hasn’t been a mass shooting since.

It’s time for our elected officials to do the right thing. Stop gun violence. Use the example of gun regulations, as demonstrated by the sensible Australians.

Claude Delaverdac ~ Galloway Township