NOT!!!!! It seems like anytime there is a mass shooting, our politicians all run for the closest TV camera to spout off more about the need for tougher gun laws.
Although we expect our "leaders " to come up with useful legislation to help keep us safe, those same leaders show they are usually just "noisemakers" trying to get political recognition for themselves.
The State of Connecticut is said to have some of the toughest gun laws in the nation, most of them passed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School killings. Sadly, most of those laws were passed by politicians in response to a rush to soothe their own consciences to say they did something in response to innocent children being slaughtered in what should have been a safe environment.
In reality, what it did was make it much tougher for honest law abiding citizens to purchase guns and ammunition. It did nothing to address illegal guns and the accompanying violence on our streets. If I wanted to purchase a handgun legally in Connecticut, I would have to apply and go through the process to get a handgun permit to arm myself.
But again , back to reality, anyone familiar with Hartford understands that you could probably go a few blocks in any direction in Hartford and illegally purchase a handgun off the streets, probably with the identifying serial numbers filed off, but a gun is a gun. And if you are involved with illegal drugs, guns are an unofficial alternative currency for drug purchases, so they are readily available from most drug locations. Not the safest thing to do, but most people involved with illegal weapons probably aren't the most law abiding residents either.
I wonder how many people carrying illegal weapons in Hartford or willing to use them in criminal activity such as robberies or shootings have actually taken the time to get a concealed carry permit and carry their guns in accordance with gun laws that Senator Murphy and others think will end the problem.
The solution if there is a solution at this point, is enforcement and accountability and being serious about it.
The double homicide arrest today of the shooter is a perfect example. The alleged shooter, is Latoy Johnson, Johnson ,a convicted felon with 23 previous arrests was currently out on Probation and was scheduled for a probation meeting in Hartford today, where he was arrested by HPD.
23 Previous arrests, a convicted felon who was barred from owning or even touching a firearm or ammunition, yet he allegedly shot and killed 2 men during a gun battle on a City Street. What do you think he thinks of your gun laws Senator Murphy? He was probably shaking like hell as he shot one man in the head and the other victim in the face He was probably terrified of the consequences of the gun laws Senator Murphy pushed so strongly for to feel better after Newtown.
Again, it comes down to stronger accountability and enforcement. Your second chance philosophy just isn't working. How does someone with 23 arrests still roam the streets to kill two men on a City Street. And Latoy Johnson clearly has no regard for society's laws and has shown no intention of abiding by them, so passing more gun laws will only give Latoy Johnson and other criminals like him a wider variety of laws they choose to ignore when committing their violent acts against society.
Let's start enforcing the laws we actually have on the books instead of trying to encumber law abiding citizens with more seat of the pants feel good, reactionary legislation
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