MY CHILD IS PART OF A SMALL VILLAGE SCHOOL AND FUNDING IS VERY VERY LOW, SO MUCH SO THAT WE HAVE TO SHARE OUR HEAD TEACHER WITH ANOTHER VILLAGE, BUT ALL THE SAME I KNOW THAT OUR SCHOOL IS SAFE FROM GUN CRIME AND THAT IS SUCH A BLESSING - A BLESSING FROM GOD HIMSELF !!

At the community level an assault rifle is a weapon of mass destruction. I would like to see fewer guns on our streets, and fewer opportunities for those with mental health needs to slip through the cracks.

gun control

FOLLOWING THE MASSACRE AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN NEWTOWN CT. ON DECEMBER 14, 2012 WE FEEL IT IS TIME FOR STRICT GUN LAW REFORM. LAWMAKERS CAN NO LONGER STAND IDLY BY ALLOWING THE MURDER OF INNOCENT VICTIMS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.

I AM A CITADEL GRAD, AN ARMY VETERAN ( OFFICER ) GUN OWNER AND HAVE BEEN CONTACTED MANY TIMES TO JOIN THE NRA...AND WILL NEVER DO SO: THERE REASONING AND HISTORY IS TOTALLY FLAWED...I CAN WALK INTO ANY PAWN SHOP IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND BUY ANY WEAPON I WANT IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES...LETS FIX THIS

The NRA wields a carrot-and-stick approach to politics, doling out generous political backing to those who agree with it or to those who are simply running against someone who disagrees with it. The group also employs a rating system under which candidates are graded according to their votes on key issues. The NRA is always transparent about certain votes being graded, and as such candidates are always on notice before they vote. Until we face the power of the NRA and truly measure the length of its reach, the issue of gun control is doomed to stay exactly where it is -- stuck. Challenging such a powerful lobby, daunting as it appears, is paramount, because we can't allow special interests to run roughshod over the public interest. The issue of guns and how we as a country regulate their ownership and use must be addressed -- and soon.

Friday's events in Newtowne Connecticut should be a wake up call for all of us. We have to fight for gun control legislation and funding to treat mental illness. I do not want my child or grandchildren, any other students, teachers or movie-goers to lose their lives because we did not take action.

Gun Control. Ban Semi Automatic and Automatic weapons (Guns)

How many more deaths will there be before private ownership of guns is banned ?

I live in New Jersey, if you wish to purchase a hypodermic needle here; you need a doctor’s prescription. That would include hypodermics for insulin, hypodermics to inject glue under carpets and linoleum; and hypodermics to inject flavoring into beef, turkey, chicken, or ham.

State Senator Jeff Klein has always been a Democrat. But now, he's forged a coalition that will just keep the Republicans in power in Albany. He says he wants to pass progressive legislation by partnering with Republican leader Dean Skelos. But Republican leader Skelos says he isn't budging on his conservative positions, and he won't even commit to letting Democratic legislation come up for a vote. That's not a partnership worth joining! We need Democrats to act like Democrats and fight for our values. We want to hike the minimum wage and tie it to inflation. We want to get big money out of politics with public funding of elections. We need to protect women's basic health. But we can't do it by teaming up with Republicans who are opposed to every one of those issues. Jeff Klein, walk away from the bad partnership and stand with the Democrats.

Citizen Right to Bear Arms The Second Amendment made sense 225 years ago, but is no longer functioning as intended. The founders were concerned about British retribution and the tyranny of the central government. The amendment has now clearly outlived its original meaning. The founders did not intend or envision that every citizen should have the ability to amass and store the kinds of deadly weapons available today. The theoretical risk that the central government might assault the People must be weighed against the actual fact that many of our unbalanced citizens have and are continuing to assault the People, including Children. In the last 45 years, 400,000 US citizens have been murdered by other citizens using firearms, virtually the same number as US deaths during all of World War II. There is a clear and present danger due to the increasing frequency of such events, and particularly the rising number of victims during each event. Public Safety and Militia Political communities such as cities, counties, states and certain special agencies should retain exclusive authority to possess weapons to enforce laws and ensure public safety. They can be tasked also with serving as a militia on behalf of the people during times of strife. Enforcement Upwards of 300 million guns are currently in circulation. Passing these Second Amendment changes would in theory make criminals of all who possess them. It would not be practical to try to collect all these weapons. Therefore under this proposal, people now legally licensed to own a gun would be grandfathered in. However, the government would appropriate a substantial amount of money to initiate a gun buyback program aimed at purchasing as many legally held guns as possible. In addition, the government would allocate resources to confiscate guns held by those without legal authorization to do so. Summary Therefore the Second Amendment's prescription on "the right to the People to keep and bear arms" should be repealed, and replaced with a provision calling for public safety agencies to be tasked with serving also as a ready militia on behalf of the People in times of strife, and that these militia should be "well-regulated" in a meaningful sense, and strictly controlled. Civilians should be allowed to join militia in times of strife.