Iraqi War Vet: Ban Assault Weapons

Steven Katz: Those who blindly cite the 2nd Amendment are being selfish
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 20, 2013 11:57 AM CDT
Updated Mar 20, 2013 12:37 PM CDT
Iraqi War Vet: Ban Assault Weapons
A gun shop owner shows off an AR-15 assault rifle.   (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Before making the case that the US should ban assault weapons, Steven Katz lays out his "street cred" in the Christian Science Monitor: He's a conservative Republican who voted for George W. Bush twice, backs small government and the 2nd Amendment, and served two tours in Iraq. But he thinks those that wave around the Constitution as blanket protection for owning AR-15s and similar guns are being selfish.

It's ridiculous that hunters need them, and a pistol is better for self-defense, writes Katz. What's more, gun fans should remember that the Constitution is a living document that has been amended 27 times to reflect the needs of a changing country. The harm being inflicted with assault weapons outweighs someone's desire to own one for target practice or for a collection. "It is time for gun advocates, including my colleagues and friends, to place the welfare of the country first and take a cue from one of the Army’s axioms—'selfless service'—and support legislation in curbing the legal accessibility of offensive weapons like the AR-15." Click for Katz's full column. (More gun control stories.)

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