Politics & Government

Speak Out: Will Newtown Change Your Attitude Toward Guns?

The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School has sparked broader debate over gun control and whether semi-automatic weapons should be banned.

The Sandy Hook shooting has opened a broader discussion over gun control and whether there should be tighter restrictions on semi-automatic weapons like the one used by shooter Adam Lanza.

As Columbia Patch points out, citing an article from The Washington Post, current law bans fully automatic assault weapons, but semi-automatic assault weapons are legal, as well as high-capacity magazines.

Since the shooting, Walmart stopped selling online the Bushmaster Patrolman's Carbine M4A3 Rifle, which is in the same family of firearms as the weapon Lanza used, The Huffington Post reports

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Wheaton Patch is reporting that Dick's Sporting Goods has suspended the sale of "modern sporting rifles" at all of its stores. 

The shooting has sparked a national gun control debate, and lawmakers already have started to weigh in.

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Carroll County Delegate Justin Ready said he does not think gun control laws need to be made stricter but rather restrictions on concealed carry permits should be relaxed for law abiding citizens.

"Maryland has some of the most restrictive gun laws of any state in the country," Ready told Patch. "I do not believe additional laws are necessary. A change I would like to see is changing restrictions on concealed carry permits to allow law-abiding citizens to protect themselves."

California Sen. Dianne Feinstien has pledged to introduce new gun-control legislation next session, the Los Angeles Times reports. President Obama has said he wants gun laws tightened.

The National Rifle Association, the biggest opponent of gun laws, has suspended some of its social media, including a 1.7 million fan Facebook page

U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) issued a statement on Tuesday calling for a national discussion on gun control:

"... we must discuss the ready access of individuals to weapons. I know there are different views in this Congress. I must tell you that I do not understand why we need to allow access to military-style assault weapons and ammunition. I strongly support Senator Feinstein’s effort to reinstate the expired 1994 ban on assault weapons, including a ban on ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds."

In Virginia, longtime Second Amendment rights supporter Sen. Mark Warner has come out in favor of stricter gun laws, Northern Virginia Patches are reporting.

On the county level, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman said he'd support an assault weapons ban, Columbia Patch reports.  Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz echoed a similar sentiment, Towson Patch reports.

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Speak Out: Should there be tighter restrictions on semi-automatic weapons? A ban? Or do you think stricter laws would infringe on Second Amendment rights?

Please post your comments below this story.


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