A Call To Disarm - Demand that the USA enact Strong Gun Control Laws

In the forward of The Children’s Defense Fund Protect Children, Not Guns 2012 report, it states, ‘by any standards of human and moral decency, American children are under assault, and by international standards, America remains an unparalleled world leader in gun deaths of children and teens—a distinction we shamefully and immorally choose!’ The report was its twelfth on child gun death and was dedicated to the memory of Trayvon Martin along with the other thousands of children and teenagers killed by guns each year in America. The report was published on March 23rd 2012, just short of a month after 17 year old Trayvon was shot down while walking home from a convenience store – ‘armed’ with a bag of skittles and a soft drink. After that tragedy, Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law (a.k.a. the “shoot first, ask questions later” law), came under both national and international scrutiny, BUT NOTHING HAS REALLY COME OF IT. In another part of the forward, the following question was posed: ‘What is it going to take to get the American public and leaders to stand up to protect the lives and safety of children first?’
My hope is the Newton, Connecticut massacre.
In the wake of the shooting spree at an elementary school in Newton, where 20 innocent young children and six women died needlessly, the topic of gun control is making its way into headlines…once again. This time, though, it feels different. A large part of the US public is devastated and horrified enough to want to see real change in gun regulations in the US. So let’s do more than just talk about it. Let’s refuse to let this pass by (like so many of the other mass shootings in the States) with tears, fleeting headlines, and moving speeches. Heartfelt words of condolences are so important during this initial grieving period. Nobody can or should deny that. But there has to be a call to action. It’s time. Clearly, it is well past that time.
President Barack Obama is putting his money where his mouth is by urging tighter federal gun laws. But he needs our help, especially at the State level where loopholes allow gun traffickers to purchase large number of guns in one State that allows it and sells them illegally in States where the ‘One gun a Month’ law is enacted. Let’s start making real change and send a global message to politicians and lawmakers in the USA, forcing them to stand up to the NRA and gun lobbying extremists by enacting proper regulations to help make the general public safer. For starters, let’s demand the following:
• By executive, President Barack Obama enforcing limits on the possession of guns by felons and mental patients, and the ability to run data checks on people who apply for weapons permits.
• A push by the President to reinstate the ban on assault weapons that had expired under Bush.
• Abolish the ‘Stand Your Ground’ law in all States that implement it. Studies have shown that this law has actually increased homicides (at least in Florida).
• Limit gun trafficking by setting limits to gun purchases. The One Gun a Month law can only work on a Federal level. As State legislation varies, it is important

This is clearly a human rights issue, especially when children are not being protected. That’s why it is important that the international community as well as U.S. citizens help President Obama force ‘meaningful change’. This is also clearly beyond infringing on our second amendment rights. The NRA and gun lobbying extremists always seem to leave out the first part of 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.” The rationale behind it was clearly not for individuals to take the law in their own hands.
Of course the real issue is not the guns, but rather the issues surrounding mental health in the US. However, strict gun control laws can reduce the carnage. This is the time to act as some States are responding to the shooting at Sandy Hook by pushing for trained teachers to carry concealed weapons. What does it say about humanity if teachers need to carry weapons in order to protect children? What kind of message are we passing on to our children? What does it say about one of the most powerful and advanced countries in the world? For a country that is clearly hyper vigilant in regulating everything from seat belts on school buses to toy guns, we can and must do better when it comes to regulating guns.