Letter to the Editor: Strict gun laws wont stop those with intent

With the recent tragedy in Colorado, I am seeing a hearing renewed debate about the merits and problems of gun control on this country. I am actually surprised to see what some people think about the firearms the murderer used.

I've seen a picture spreading around with a 30-round magazine Photoshopped to look much longer, like it holds 100 rounds. I really don't think gun control will be the solution to these problems, considering that this particular murderer booby-trapped his apartment with explosives. He could easily have used explosives to commit the atrocity.

Another column featured in The Daily described gun shows as overstepping the Second Amendment and that civilians should be limited in what they can have. All that does, however, is make more weapons illegal — that's all. You can see that as limiting the law-abiding citizen's ability to get a firearm, but if someone really wants one and can't get it from a gun show, they'll get it somewhere else. There's always plenty of criminals willing to sell.

How does a ban prevent someone intent on getting something from getting it? Pot is banned, yet how many students smoke it regularly or semi-regularly? You can probably get it easily, too, and yet it's banned.

When alcohol was banned under Prohibition, did that stop anyone from drinking? No, it merely made them illegal drinkers. Blanket bans on anything already there and available have never fixed a problem.

Tragedies will probably never be easily prevented, but a good lesson to take from this will be the importance of mental health awareness. Gun bans and control will not end mass murders or criminal activity. There are so many more factors that affect why the U.S. has such a high murder rate, not just firearm availability.

Daily columnist Trent Cason laid out two possible solutions — limiting the types civilians can own legally or allowing anyone to carry a firearm — yet neither of those are solutions to this problem. There isn't any actual solution at this time that can prevent every tragedy.

I also should mention that some of us do enjoy the act of shooting — legally, at a range. The gun bans proposed really only affect people like me who do buy legally and follow all laws. Someone who wants to kill people will find a way to do it. I may not be qualified to say what the best thing to do is, but it seems that education on mental health and recognizing the signs of someone who is disturbed is more important.

It won't stop every tragedy either, but it's a lot better than a ban that won't work.

— Anthony Vogt, Latin language junior