USA: Shooting rampage in Newtown, Connecticut revives fierce debate over gun control in the U.S.
Record ID:
324680
USA: Shooting rampage in Newtown, Connecticut revives fierce debate over gun control in the U.S.
- Title: USA: Shooting rampage in Newtown, Connecticut revives fierce debate over gun control in the U.S.
- Date: 17th December 2012
- Summary: NEWTOWN HIGH SCHOOL SIGN WITH FLOWERS, CANDLES, AND BALLOONS PAN TO MAN KNEELING DOWN WITH HEAD BENT CLOSE-UP OF MAN KNEELING DOWN SIGN THAT READS, "LITTLE ANGELS UP ABOVE BLESS OUR TOWN WITH ALL YOUR LOVE" (SOUNDBITE) (English) JIM CALLERY, SANDY HOOK RESIDENT, SAYING: "There's no reason for anyone to have an assault rifle or have access to one. Just show some leadership." PEOPLE HOLDING CANDLES (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL OLIVA, CONNECTICUT RESIDENT, SAYING: "He (Obama) didn't specify it though what he meant. Of course you have to be careful what you say I guess but you think he would focus more on that (mental Illness). The gun control you're just going to fight and bump heads, you might as well do stuff that you know is happening, what's going on with these people. The Colorado shooter was crazy too. I mean these people, they're obvious. It's not something you don't see. I don't know why they are slipping through the cracks I guess you would say." PEOPLE LEAVING THE VIGIL
- Embargoed: 1st January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime
- Reuters ID: LVABROJM0SBGHB3KAQEV0YE3U5WF
- Story Text: The fierce debate over gun control in the United States got underway Sunday (December 16) as several Democratic lawmakers called for a new push for U.S. gun restrictions, including a ban on military-style assault weapons, in the wake of the Connecticut massacre in which 20 children and six adults were gunned down in a school.
Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, the author of an assault-weapons ban that lapsed in 2004, said she would introduce new legislation this week. Senator Dick Durbin, the chamber's No. 2 Democrat, said lawmakers would hold hearings on gun control, and several others said they would devote new attention to the long-ignored issue.
Any effort to restrict access to high-powered weapons is likely to face fierce opposition from many Republicans in Congress who say restrictions violate the U.S. Constitution's right to bear arms.
Outside a gun convention in Sarasota, Florida, gun enthusiasts were worried and offended about calls to make changes to current gun laws and fear any new limits on their right to own firearms.
"It scares me, yes, not scared in a way where I am panic stricken or anything, but it offends me. Not only the fact that this guy committed probably one of the most vicious crimes I have ever heard of in my entire life, but somehow because I am a gun owner that I am in the same boat. I am not in the same boat. I have nothing in common with that guy," said an unidentified man.
Gun control has been a low priority for most U.S. politicians due to the widespread popularity of guns in America and the clout of the pro-gun National Rifle Association. Most Republicans and many Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, are firm allies of the group.
But many are fed up with the access shooters have had to certain firearms such as assault rifles.
In Oregon, where a man walked into a mall and shot and killed two people last week, State Senator Ginny Burdick said new laws need to be passed limit the weapons that are available in the United States.
"The guns we are seeing in our communities have nothing to do with hunting, they have to do with killing people, and we have to get real about that," Burdick said.
In Newtown, Connecticut where the rampage took place Friday (December 15) at Sandy Hook Elementary School, residents attending a vigil to mourn the dead and console the living called on President Barack Obama, who was in attendance, to lead a change to current U.S. gun laws.
"I just want him (Obama) to look at this, go back to Washington, sit down and talk to the people and tell them what he saw here today and how bad it is and to do something about it that this never happen anywhere in this country ever again. These kids are our future and it shouldn't be so easy for people to buy these guns," Relifs Esson said.
"There's no reason for anyone to have an assault rifle or have access to one," said Sandy Hook resident Jim Callery, adding "Just show some leadership." .
Opinion polls have found Americans to be divided on the issue even after other high-profile shooting incidents.
U.S. lawmakers have not approved a major new gun law since 1994.
Feinstein said her planned legislation would outlaw the high-capacity magazines and military-style assault rifles that have factored in many recent mass shootings, including Friday's massacre in Connecticut. People who own such weapons now would not be required to give them up, Feinstein said.
She said she would introduce her bill in the Democratic-controlled Senate soon, and a companion bill would be introduced in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Connecticut's Democratic governor and two senators, one a Democrat and one an independent, voiced support for an assault-weapons ban or restrictions on high-capacity magazines.
Obama campaigned on gun control in 2008, but he has expanded gun rights in his first four years in office, signing legislation that would allow people to carry weapons on Amtrak trains and in national parks.
Obama spoke to the residents of Newtown at the vigil and said "we can't tolerate this anymore" adding "in the coming weeks I'll use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens," but the White House has declined to say what measures he would support. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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