IDIOTIC – AT 9:14 A.M. ET:  What outrages me about some gun-control proponents is that so many of their proposals are idiotic, would have no practical effect, and seem to be made more to give themselves publicity than to save lives.

As I've written here many times, I'm a legitimate gun owner, but would be happy to see proposals to reduce gun violence that are effective and pass Constitutional muster.  (For example, I have always favored mandatory safety courses for gun owners.  I have also favored the inclusion of carefully vetted mental-health information in background checks.)

Now we have a new proposal that is a true zero.  From eagnews.org:

HARTFORD, Conn. – A Connecticut government commission created after the Sandy Hook school massacre will be proposing a “gun ban.”

The Morning Journal reports:

An advisory panel charged with looking at public safety in the wake of the deadly Newtown school shooting agreed Friday to include in its final report a recommendation to ban the sale and possession of any gun that can fire more than 10 rounds without reloading.

“Whether or not this law would stand the test of constitutionality is not for this commission to decide,” says former Hartford Police Chief Bernard Sullivan, a member of the panel.

“The commission has expressed very strongly that this is a statement that is needed regarding the lethality of weapons.”

The group wants to emphasize that there “needs to be more regulation of guns that can inflict mass casualties, even if it causes some inconvenience to recreational shooters.”

Members of the commission want to make it clear they hope to not just affect Connecticut gun control policy.

“We’re not writing proposed legislation, we’re writing end results, saying this is where we think you guys need to go,” says Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson, the commission’s chairman, according to the paper.

“We’re hoping that some of our recommendations will go far beyond the borders of the state of Connecticut.”

COMMENT:  Of what value is this?  A gun's magazine, which actually holds the bullets, can be swapped out in a few seconds.  And...many of the most heinous crimes are committed by assailants who are carrying more than one gun.

I wonder if the esteemed commission will propose one step that clearly would have an impact on possibly preventing and certainly limiting the damage from these horrendous shootings:  having trained people at schools who can handle an emergency, and publicizing their presence.  That may mean arming some willing and capable staff members.   We protect jewelry stores and banks that way, don't we?  Are children less valuable than watches?

January 19,  2015