As for the rifles themselves, I believe that the current restrictions that keep them semi-automatic are fine, should be enforced to no end, and I'm okay with most assault rifles as long as we aren't talking 50 caliber size. Seriously, there isn't an animal in America you can legally hunt with that monster and the possibility of it falling into the wrong hands, i.e., anyone other than a professional military man that is in his right mind, is just too big of a risk. Even allowing them to be sold opens up the chance for drug cartels and other enemies of the states to get them. I think the biggest problems with assault rifles is the sense of empowerment that it gives to the people that buy them, and well, as seen at Sandy Hook, they can easily fall into the wrong hands. I would probably agree to an age restriction of 25 and over only with those type of weapons, but then again, it wouldn't have prevented what happen because the killer's mom (who died) was an avid gun collector and she paid the price for having that and a troubled son in the home.
Having said that, I do believe in closing some of the loopholes that allow mentally ill people, convicted felons, and other "no-no's" to purchase them isn't such a bad idea. I wouldn't go as far as passing a law that forces gun owners to register all weapons simply because I think that gives the government just a little bit too much insight into people's homes. I might consider it as a trade off if they passed a law that required welfare recepients to undergo drug testing.....but that is an argument for another day.
While I am not in full support of either side, I do argue that there are far too many idiots in America who own far too many weapons, and they scare me. It amazes me that I hear of people stockpiling guns and ammo in case the government tries to take them away. While I don't ever deny that I don't trust the government, I also don't trust a huge percentage of Americans who let mass hysteria and fear rule their lives to the point that they allow it to emotionally overrule rational thought. Case in point.... 9-11 happens, and the blantant lies put forth in the media about Iraq possessing WMD's allowed a President to convince a revenge hungry country to allow him to send soldiers to their deaths in the wrong country, while the real bad guys sat in another country laughing at us (the American people). As I vet, I'm glad my life wasn't on the line when a President with the wrong motives and the right amount of power gave the order to ship out to Iraq. I also thank my best friend at the time that talked me out of joining back up in the days after the towers fell. I thought since I was single, I had nothing to lose. Looking back, I was emotionally-irrational.
I see this same type of fear being played by the NRA now. Of course, they profit off of gun sales, gun lobbys, and membership fees, so you can't blame them. They say the answer is armed guards in all schools. Of course, that would mean more gun sales. Cities such as Detroit Michigan cannot even afford a full staff of police now so how can every school in America afford to have its own police force? To me, that argument coming from the far right who wants budget cuts is as assinine as the far left talking about defending innocent children but promoting abortion.
Adding to the far right's alarm is the President attempting to get things done on his own bypassing Congress. I don't believe the President Obama should have increased powers, as with all the talk of Executive orders and such. We saw how giving President Bush a blank check turned out. An often referred to quote of "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" is indicative of many of our past political leaders and foes alike. I think he is overstepping his bounds, much the same as his predecessor did, and leads me to question his motives and references to "transparency" within the government if he became President.
Lets hope in the end, a peaceful accord is reached. Our children deserve to feel safe in the classroom. Guns are needed for protection in the U.S., and by the few "real hunters" who feed their families through the legal taking of wild game. There will always be those people who shouldn't have weapons, who gain possession of the wrong arsenal and use it for the wrong purpose. Analyze that last sentence and see that it applies to not just misguided teenagers, and terrorists, but also world leaders in our own lifetime. God bless America and our men and women in arms. You have definitely earned the right to carry assault rifles and high capacity magazines. The rest of America should be thankful they didn't have to earn it.