Paul Dreyer Sr.: Ill-advised gun raffle

Our Constitution begins, “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility.” Over 100 deaths and injuries in Orlando are just another example that we are not insuring domestic tranquility. When are we going to reach the point when our representatives are going to enact laws to reasonably control access to firearms, particularly automatic weapons? How many more Orlandos, Sandy Hooks, San Bernardinos and Virginia Techs do we need before some action is taken?

I understand that our Founders insured the right to bear arms in order to allow for a well-regulated militia, and I support a person’s right to hunt and, if they choose, purchase a hand gun to defend homes. But I have to question the judgment of the Wake County Republican Party to raffle off “THREE great weapons” including two that are not so different from the AR-15 chosen by the shooter in Orlando. I think Orlando showed we had at least one too many automatic rifles, and the GOP should have asked, do we really need two more?

This story was originally published June 17, 2016 at 4:44 PM with the headline "Paul Dreyer Sr.: Ill-advised gun raffle."