editorials

"Do nations have personality traits? Are Germans industrious, Chinese mathematical, French aloof, Swedes stoic? If shreds of truth abide in those and other impressions, then what trait best describes Americans?" .................. Self-reliant. This was a nation founded on the principle of freedom FROM oppressive government, and five generations back isn't all that long ago. Americans have historically seen government as at best a necessary evil, and the continued almost exponential growth of government has many Americans more than a tad nervous. Americans have historically done for themselves and done so proudly, suffering the interference of government only if and when necessary. Today? More and more it is no longer the government serving the people, but the other way around, and that has a lot of people pretty on edge.

Thanks for this thoughtful piece. The overtones of armed insurrection in response to perceived tyranny are treasonous and hateful of democracy. Are these heavy armament advocates really ready to turn on the cops or the Red Bulls? That's why the government should know where all the assault weapons are. Unfortunately, the gun industry has propped open that barn door. However, we should depict "personal protection" assault weapons as what they are: symbols of treason or threats of murder. Just turn them in.

Many places in America are peaceful. Some places are not, and there is a real and constant fear that the violence will spill into surrounding neighborhoods. If there are shootouts in front of the Bellagio, and a student is murdered shortly after attending a Presidential function, then there are real security concerns for each citizen. Even worse, the liberal governance exploding the dependents in this country assure an unstable future when the money runs out....and it will. Again, I know of houses in the southern US connected by field phones, in anticipation of an America defaulting on its debt, its citizens.

There is no need for assault weapons to be housed in the homes of citizens of the U.S.A. Military weaponry belongs off of the streets and out of our homes.

There is no need for assault weapons to be housed in the homes of citizens of the U.S.A - - - OK, so explain to me just what makes an assault rifle.

Why is it in MN that I can have a firearm for safety, maybe even get a conceal carry permit for more safety, from a gun carrying attacker, but I can't carry a set of brass knuckles or a switch blade to protect myself from a more likely personal crime like a mugging? Don't waste my time with the hackneyed," why would you bring a knife to a gunfight" response. Gun people can choose a firearm, pacifist can choose to carry nothing, but I can't legally possess a weapon that falls between the other two choices?

300 million guns and counting in the public's hands? And scant traceability of most of them? Not the worst of news since that is the one sure way to forestall any thought of confiscation. Perhaps when the count reaches 400 million, likely within the decade, any thought of seizing any or all of them will seem so far-fetched that it will never be considered by rational people again and our fear of that occurring will start to drop. But until then the disarming of all Americans is still a goal of some in power and any paranoia we may have remains justified.

I constantly see/hear this attitude about the idea of confiscation as silly and outdated. Hurricane Katrina happened 7 years ago. As a result of the disaster, law abiding citizens who were doing nothing wrong had their weapons taken from them. The police and military both took part. There is even video of them punching and taking to the ground an elderly woman who they were "checking on." She said "Yea, I'm fine. I have plenty of food and my revolver." She was promptly assaulted and had her weapon taken from her.

"Military weaponry belongs off of the streets and out of our homes." If it is in a cop's possession, is it ok to be on the streets? The police are responding to criminals that committed a crime against a citizen. If the cops are warranted to have that type of weapon in dealing with that criminal, why can't the homeowner? If a double barrel shotgun is, in fact, the best defense weapon as the Vice President claims, then why don't the cops carry them?

"There is no need for assault weapons to be housed in the homes of citizens of the U.S.A. Military weaponry belongs off of the streets and out of our homes." No one has an "assault weapon" as assault weapons are automatic. They are illegal! The AR15 is a semi-automatic rifle just like any other hunting rifle. Just because it has a pistol grip does not mean it is anymore lethal than a Remington 7400 308 rifle that I hunt with, in fact it is less lethal because of the bullet.