Hunting laws in all U.S. states impose comprehensive mandatory limits on individuals and weapons. These laws dictate when, where, and how guns can be used to shoot animals. Certain weapons, including assault rifles, are banned. Hunters must meet certain qualifications, and pay for licenses which require firearm identification cards and formal training. In spite of these wholesale gun controls, there are no complaints of infringing on Second Amendments rights.
However, attempts to impose controls on the use of these weapons for other purposes result in strong claims of violating Second Amendment rights. Gun control opponents are OK with restrictions on shooting animals but are outraged if restrictions apply to shooting at other things, including people.
This doesn’t make sense, as does the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing anyone to carry a concealed weapon at a time when this country is experiencing a deadly surge in wanton gun violence. Uncompromising gun control opponents and the current U.S. Supreme Court are deaf or apathetic to common sense, constitutionally justified laws and changes this country now needs.
The question is how to achieve these important changes? Citizens choose their congressional representative who can enact needed laws, but what about the make-up of the U.S. Supreme Court which has the ultimate say-so about those laws. It’s time for term limits or periodic reconfirmation of these judges. They cannot be legal dictators with impunity from satisfactory job performance!
Paul Gallo
Barre