Paul Soglin: Waxing America

Stopping the NRA and the Murder of America's Youth

The Nation Rifle Association (NRA) in its century long romance with violence violated the American people, their children, and our liberty, peace and tranquillity in classrooms from  Columbine to Sandy Hook, from Oregon to Virginia.

Since 1992, 386 school shootings in the United States and 493 dead. The more weapons, the more firepower, the more dead.

The NRA tells us that the solution is more armed guards and teachers in the classroom.

After perverting the Second Amendment, ensuring more guns in every city and town, they explain that we need more firepower to stop the thugs they armed. Meanwhile the bodycount mounts.

Mayors Against Illegal have a  plan -follow this link and sign up:

1. Require a criminal background check for every gun sold in America
2. Ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines
3. Make gun trafficking a federal crime, including real penalties for “straw purchasers”

The Second Amendment:

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.

That simple three point plan does not compromise a well regulated militia. After all, you cannot yell fire in a crowded theater yet the First Amendment says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances

 

 

Guns: What We Knew For Decades

Put a gun in a home and it is seven times more likely to be used:

• In a suicide by a member of the family
• To shoot a member of the family either purposefully or by accident.
• To shoot the owner of the weapon.

than used to defend the household.

 

 

Concealed Carry

Get used to seeing a new sign as you enter any city building in Madison.  The signs will indicate that you are not allowed  to carry a firearm into any City of Madison building. The new State Concealed Carry law goes into effect on November 1^st.  In preparation for this day, city staff have been working to put guidelines into place to announce the restriction regarding firearms in city buildings, on city property and on Madison Metro buses.

It is no secret that this law is bad public policy.  Citizens do not need to carry guns. However, the legislature and this Governor disagree, so we need to make sure that city employees and residents can feel safe and comfortable in city buildings.  The same restrictions apply to bus shelters, transfer stations and park shelters.

As Madison residents, you too are able to post a sign at your home.  Apartment and condo residents need to post for their individual units, but a building owner can post that weapons are prohibited in the common areas.  Business owners are also able to post signs.

You can purchase a sign from the City Clerk's Office, or download it from the city website at www.cityofmadison.com/police/concealedcarry.cfm .  You can also find additional information on the website including Frequently Asked Questions about the new law and how Madison is affected.