Congress needs to try again on gun control

By Harry Rilling

Norwalk Democratic Mayoral Candidate

NORWALK, Conn. – Amongst the mourners most disturbed by gun violence are police officers. Not only are they frequent victims themselves, but they understand well the mindless damage that can result from unregulated access to assault-style weapons and unnecessarily large magazines. As society’s first line of defense against criminal violence, police officers are uniquely interested in the outcome of the state and federal legislative debates on adopting common-sense measures to reduce gun violence.

Guns kill 30,000 people in our country each year, approximately the same as are killed in automobile accidents.

Those of us who carried guns for a living envision a safer world where owners keep their weapons securely locked away, where sensible background checks keep guns out of the hands of violent felons and others ill-equipped to carry a gun, and where military-style weapons and magazines are restricted to the military and law enforcement.

Thus for me and for other law enforcement professionals, the U.S. Senate’s vote to turn down the recently proposed gun control package was an insult. The bill, the softest of any proposed legislation so far, focused on large magazines and on universal background checks for new buyers. The senators who killed basic background checks did so in opposition to the more than 90 percent of Americans who support them, according to recent polls.

In no way have I ever opposed the right of the American people to possess firearms. There are, however, checks and balances that can significantly reduce gun violence. We have witnessed far too many random mass killings to continue to bury our heads in the sand.

In January, I proposed seven common-sense measures to stem gun violence in our communities. Unfortunately only one of those recommendations – implementing emergency plans in all schools – has been widely pursued. However, no amount of preparation and planning can stop completely a committed and well-armed killer at the door of a school. Therefore we need other measures to keep firearms from the hands of those inclined to commit these heinous acts of violence.

Many of the measures I endorsed were adopted by the Connecticut General Assembly but only federal legislation can implement nationwide reforms. That’s why it is time for reasonable people to work towards effective legislation that could reduce the likelihood of an incident similar to the tragedy in Sandy Hook.

Congress needs to take another crack at passing legislation to regulate large magazines and to keep guns out of the hands of unstable individuals. I’ve seen first-hand the devastation wrought by guns, and I know that these two modest steps will make Norwalk and all our communities safer for everyone.

Harry Rilling, former Norwalk police chief