Depravity

In the law, “depraved indifference” is a state of mind that can affect a defendant’s criminal liability: “To constitute depraved indifference, the defendant’s conduct must be ‘so wanton, so deficient in a moral sense of concern, so lacking in regard for the life or lives of others, and so blameworthy as to warrant the same criminal liability as that which the law imposes upon a person who intentionally causes a crime” (www.definitions.uslegal.com).

Compare what Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin recently said about Β our supposed constitutional right to own assault weapons that can fire up to 100 rounds without reloading: “These are rifles that are used in hunting. Just the fact of the matter is this is really not an issue of guns. This is about sick people doing things you simply can’t prevent. It’s really an issue of freedom” (Fox News Sunday, 7/22/12).Β 

These are rifles that are used in hunting people.

Common Sense

Chris Rock used to get big laughs and loud applause when he suggested putting an enormous tax on every bullet sold. In a more practical vein, Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey has introduced legislation that would outlaw ammunition clips holding more than 10 rounds.

Is it possible for our government to do what is sensible and clearly constitutional?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/24/opinion/6000-bullets-in-colorado.html?hp

Insanity

1999 – Columbine – 12 dead, 21 wounded.

2007 – Virginia Tech – 32 dead, 17 wounded.

2008 – Northern Illinois – 5 dead, 21 wounded.

2009 – Fort Hood – 13 dead, 29 wounded.

2009 – Binghamton – 13 dead, 4 wounded.

2011 – Tucson – 6 dead, 14 wounded.

2012 – Tuscaloosa – 18 wounded.

2012 – Aurora – 12 dead, 58 wounded.

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

We don’t have a well-regulated militia. Instead, we have the unregulated sale of dangerous weapons.

Either weapons of war like the AR-15 assault rifle should be illegal or we should all be able to purchase surface-to-air missiles. It’s one way or the other.