OK. Everyone can have a musket

As a policy our SUN editorials focus on local or even hyper-local issues, but we can’t let the terrible events in Orlando, Florida, pass without comment. We are saddened by the death and suffering inflicted on innocent people and their families, and are particularly horrified by the obvious intent to make victims of the LGBTQ community.

We view this act of murderous intent more as a hate crime than political terrorism, despite the efforts of some politicians to make it about “radical Islam.” We applaud President Obama for his frank and critical comments directed at Donald Trump and others who have plans to use this horrific incident to political advantage.

And we want to lend our support to those who are advocating re-institution of the assault weapons ban. The AR-15 weapon used in this and other mass murders is designed as a killing machine; despite protestations to the contrary, such weapons are not for sportsmen or hobbyist target practice, and they have no place outside of military conflict.

The authors of the Bill of Rights could not imagine the AR-15 or comparable weapons. The Second Amendment was written in the age of muskets requiring the hand-loading of both a single round bullet and a single load of gunpowder. Those who insist on a strict interpretation of the Second Amendment conveniently overlook keeping to a strict interpretation of the type of guns available at that time; if they did, everyone could have a one-shot, hand-loaded musket, and nothing more would be “guaranteed.”

Every time an event like this occurs, there are rumblings of gun control legislation, but nothing ever gets passed. This time will likely be a repeat of that sorry record. With each event, the number of victims gets bigger, and we suspect that unless laws change they will get bigger yet. As we write, Sen. Chris Murphy is conducting a filibuster on the Senate floor to insist that his colleagues enact gun reform.

Nevertheless, and without apology, we add our voice to the outraged chorus asking for change. Common sense and human decency demand nothing less, for we cannot imagine this is the country in which our Founders intended we should live.

SUN Editorial Board