Reinstate the Ban on Assault Weapons, Institute a Ban on High Capacity Ammunition Clips and Strengthen Background Checks

Although I firmly believe in the second amendment right to bear arms, it is necessary to introduce these measures in order to assure the safety and wellbeing of every American. Military-style Assault Weapons have no place in the hands of any citizen. These weapons are not used for hunting or self-defense, but rather killing a large amount of people in a very short amount of time. (This has been demonstrated by three recent mass killings in Aurora, Newtown and Rochester.) By instituting both of these bans, massacres of this calibre are more easily preventable. Finally, by tightening Background checks, we can assure that every citizen with ownership of a firearm has the mental capacity to not misuse such a weapon in a manner that results in the death of innocents.