Politics & Government

Sound Off: Thoughts on Gun Control

One Severna Park Patch blogger shared his opinions on gun control and asked others for their thoughts.

After the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT politicians, teachers, journalists and area residents began discussing gun control.

The shooting killed 26 people, including 20 children, and left many people asking for gun control reform.

Last week, a Severna Park blogger and gun owner shared his opinion on gun control on Patch.

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"There really aren't any good reasons to have a large capacity magazine and I look forward to someone trying to state a good and legitimate reason for a large capacity," Chet Brewer wrote in his blog.

Brewer wrote that he has always kept a weapon around the house. He said he "reluctantly" unloaded it after he had children, but still keeps in inside the home.

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In his blog, Brewer also said that gun ownership is a privilege that can and should be taken away if necessary.

"Gun ownership is a privilege and must be earned similar to driving a car," Brewer wrote. "You have a potentially dangerous product and must (be) able to prove and show that you are capable of handling safely and responsibly. It can and should be rescinded if your actions threaten this."

Brewer isn't the only one sounding off on gun control policies. On Dec. 20, The Huffington Post reported that the head of the American Federation of Teachers called for a renewal of the assault weapons ban and asked for limitations on high-capacity magazines.

When speaking at a news conference after the Newtown shootings, President Barack Obama set a January deadline for proposals of how to deal with gun violence.

Wayne LaPierre, the CEO and executive vice president of The National Rifle Association, called for armed guards in schools after the tragedy at Sandy Hook. However, he said he did not think high-capacity magazines should be banned, according to CNN.

Brewer ended his blog post by saying he hopes the gun control debate ends with some sort of compromise, but wasn't optimistic. He was also curious as to what others thought.

"I really hope that the upcoming discussion on gun control ends up in the realm of the rational and that a decent compromise is reached between gun rights advocates and the gun control advocates, not that I have any hope that either group will be able to be adults and compromise."

Have the recent shootings in Newtown, CT changed your opinions on gun control? Tell us in the comments.

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To read Chet Brewer's  post on gun control click here. 


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