Sandy Hook shooting and another gun debate

After the tragic shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 young children and 7 adults (6 teachers and killer’s mother), were killed by the gunman Adam Lanza, the gun control debate is taking over the mass media – yet again.

Sandy Hook is different.  The killer had some major mental issues recognized by his mother who, as reported recently, was trying to commit his to a mental institution.  Mother’s plans prompted Adam Lanza to kill his mother and the other 26 innocent people.

Unfortunately, the guns used in this horrific crime came from the mother’s firearm collection.  She was a legal and licensed gun owner in Connecticut.  However, the law, and apparently the common sense, couldn’t prevent this disturbed 20-year-old from using the guns to kill.

Could this tragedy be prevented?  Obviously, the mother knew about her son’s condition and totally ignored the fact that her son had access to firearms.  Could the law be changed to screen for households with mental patients?
If they had been register somewhere – yes.  Knowing the lack of true mental screening net in the United States, those laws are ineffective.

The other side of the coin is the subject of the taboo.  We can’t pretend that guns don’t exist.  Perhaps high school students should receive a hands on training in a ROTC or police-like class?  After seeing a deadly effect of the gun, safety training, and satisfied curiosity, most of the young people would just move on to another subject.

What can be done in the mean time?
On Roe & Roeper show, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry F. McCarthy, brought up a very interesting idea used in New York City already.  Since most shooting are still committed with the illegal guns,  registering each gun sale, would put pressure on the legal gun owners to follow the background check laws.  Even with private sales.  In other words, guns would be treated like cars or motorcycles with title changing hands in the open.

Besides the stringent laws, banning all assault rifles is again on the table.  Can well regulated militia use shotguns instead?  I’m sure that would be fine.

We all know that one law will never change.  It’s the right to posses a firearm.  I have a feeling that in a very near future, a handgun will become the only firearm available for self defense.  It’s time to put that .50 cal sniper rifle away.