Gold & Silver Forum - Rev. Michael L. Pfleger: Douchebag.

Use common sense to regulate the flow of guns

http://www.suntimes.com/news/comment...-vox01.article

October 1, 2008

There is a great amount of confusion regarding the issue of gun legislation. The National Rifle Association and Illinois National Rifle Association like to paint the picture with a broad and untrue brush. They say the Rev. Michael L. Pfleger, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Mayor Daley and others are trying to take your Second Amendment rights away and the NRA is trying to protect them! This is an outright lie! The Supreme Court in a recent decision made it clear individuals have a right to bear arms. Like it or not, that was its interpretation. All we are saying is, "Fine, but let us regulate the sale of guns and stop the flow of guns." We have asked for commonsense gun laws: One gun per month, reinstate the assault weapon ban, require universal background checks and make crime data public. Let's regulate guns as we do cars. Right from the manufacturers, every car has a title that must be transferred from owner to owner. Why can't we do the same with guns? Many Downstate legislators say their constituents do not want any gun legislation. I do not believe this is true, but it is being used to hide behind the lucrative campaign donations of the NRA and the threats by them to run someone against them if they support any gun legislation. Every time we question Downstate individuals, they overwhelming say they support regulating the flow of guns. Others say, well, if we do so in Illinois, they will just come from out of state. There are many laws that we have begun in Illinois just because they're right, and some have become national models for other states to follow. Why not lead the country? Last year in the United States, more than 300 students were shot by a gun. That is the size of a school. This school year, eight Chicago Public School students have been killed by gun violence since Labor Day. Our children are dying and guns are creating an atmosphere where no one is safe. No one is trying to take away guns. For God's sake, lets regulate them!

Rev. Michael L. Pfleger, pastor, Faith Community of St. Sabina