With the recent Sandy Hook shooting, there has been an increased call for gun control laws. Items such as the assault weapon ban, closing the gun show loophole, and magazine capacity limits are all back on the table.  I will not try to argue that what happened at Sandy Hook wasn’t horrible – it was. It is made worse for many people by the fact that so many children were killed.

However we should not allow our outrage, shock and anger to have us make rash decisions.

In the wake of the 9/11 attack, many people – myself included – wanted a solution in terms of legislation. Something that would prevent such an attack from ever happening again regardless of how it affected my life.  I admit that I was willing to give up some of my freedoms so that we could catch and punish the terrorists.  After all – I wasn’t a terrorist so what did I have to fear?

Sadly, the effects of the Patriot Act do affect me and now there is no going back.   I must provide proof of innocence when applying for a mortgage,  I must go through x-rays machines at the airport, I must have my email/phone communications monitored.  The government uses the Patriot Act as an excuse to harass good Americans but how much has it actually helped to stop terrorism?

Violence is a problem – but before we pass sweeping gun control legislation that turns honest Americans into suspects and criminals we need to step back, take a breath and think rationally.  Any decision we make in anger will be the wrong one.