Bill, this is indeed a concern. The Democratic Congress will be happy to pass an Assault Weapons Ban, of course. And Bush, who himself had said he wouldn't veto a reinstatement of the Clinton ban -- in a master play of politics, he knew the GOP Congress would probably sink the renewal, thus allowing him to dodge the issue -- might sign it.
Every time there is a domestic massacre like this, it is important to recognize that it will immediately be exploited as a way to attack our freedom. People on the left will predictably say it is shameful to oppose the oncoming attempts to strip us of our gun rights. Some will even say we are being heartless in thinking about that so soon after a horrifying mass killing.
Well, this is what rightwingers said when 9/11 hit and some on the left dared to question US foreign policy and oppose the politicization of that tragedy to bring about more empire and a bigger police state. The fact is, another gun control law would not have prevented this, America's current gun laws didn't prevent this, and neither, for that matter, did the laws against murder. Someone willing to commit mass murder is going to be willing to break gun laws. The state is not our salvation. And no one should exploit this tragedy as an excuse to further attack the Bill of Rights.
A White House spokeswoman says "The president believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed."
The truth, which should be spoken now as much as ever, is that America's thousands of gun laws make Americans less safe, and enforcing those laws makes massacres, whether at Columbine or on 9/11, more likely. In any case, it didn't stop this latest tragedy.
