Stephen Norton: Make it a little harder to get guns

I find it truly incomprehensible why this country failed to reinstate a previous ban on assault weapons, which are frequently used in mass shootings. There is simply no justification for civilians owning military-style weapons, but such a ban was turned down by Congress (primarily by members of the Republican Party).

One sometimes hears the argument that killers will find a way to acquire such weapons even with a ban. However, one can also argue that making it even a little more difficult to obtain such weapons will inevitably save some lives since mass shootings with these weapons are depressingly common.

The idea promoted by some gun-rights advocates that more guns make us safer is a ridiculous and dangerous delusion.

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Stephen Norton: Make it a little harder to get guns."