Gun-shy lawmakers

I was shocked to read that, almost before President Barack Obama made his proposals regarding gun control measures, Sen. Richard Burr went on record as opposing them.

For him and the other lawmakers in Washington, this is one time in their lives that they can make a real difference. Instead, many choose to be chattel of the NRA. I don’t believe anyone objects to the ownership of hunting rifles or small handguns. What I do believe is that it is unconscionable to hide behind the Second Amendment, which never guaranteed the right to own weapons of mass destruction.

If Congress defeats reasonable curbs on ownership and sales of automatic weapons and ammunition for these weapons, each lawmaker bears responsibility for the next round of killings.

Kitty B. Hicks

Raleigh