If someone is willing to violate the most sacred law of “Do not  kill,” why would they even care about a “silly” regulatory law? The only people who will respect gun control laws are the people who wouldn’t commit crimes in the first place — law-abiding citizens.

More people are killed with hammers ever year than so-called assault rifles (according to FBI crime statistics). Where are the demands for stricter hammer controls?

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 27 people are killed daily due to drunk drivers. In total, almost 10,000 people die every year to the gross misuse of the combination of vehicles and alcohol. Do you know how many people died last year of assault weapons (according to FBI crime statistics?) Less than 400.

Sandy Hook was a tragedy. It was horrendous. But the blame should not be placed on the misused tool that a disturbed person used. Had there not been guns, he would have found another way to kill. It’s not hard.

Chicago has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country, yet, since these strict gun controls have been enacted, violent crime has skyrocketed by 50 percent.

Why? Because law-abiding citizens can no longer defend themselves against the people who will obtain weapons and kill regardless of the law.

Why are schools being targeted? If you’re an evil or disturbed person wishing to do other people harm they are ripe for the taking. You can be sure you’ll “score” a significant kill count before anyone, if anyone, can resist. All gun control does is create zones of vulnerability.

We can’t continue to live in this make-believe world where we pretend taking away guns makes things better. Evil people will continue to be evil and do bad things. If not with guns, with other tools misused for slaughter.

We need to come to terms with the fact this world is dangerous and chaotic.

We should be encouraging law-abiding citizens to arm themselves.

It will not only help minimize mass murder casualties, but act as a deterrent to those who would prey on the innocent. Maybe the wolves will think twice if their defenseless sheep can fight back.

People like to target guns because they are an easy scapegoat.

It’s easy to pinpoint gun manufacturers and place a name and face on the source of the problems.

In comparison, mental illness doesn’t have a source.

There is no one to blame.

Even more so is the concept of “evil”, that is only spoken of and only acknowledged to exist shortly after such tragedies, then we once again return to denying it.

America needs to grow up.

It’s time to tackle the serious issues that have no simple answer, rather than strip away the carefully considered and granted rights of its citizens.

Matthew Semrau,

Communication, Journalism major

Senior