The Blue Ridges of WNC

The Blue Ridges of WNC

1/23/2011

Should not people have the same protection as ducks?

While watching coverage of the Tucson tragedy and how the carnage might have been lessened by having laws in place controlling the size and types of magazines available to the public, thereby limiting the number of rounds that could be fired before the shooter would have to reload, led me to consider the irony of existing Federal Law that applies to every state.

It is illegal to hunt migratory birds-waterfowl, doves, etc. anywhere in this nation using a shotgun larger than 10 gauge and one that does not have its magazine permanently plugged to LIMIT it to no more than 3 shells, 2 in the magazine and one in the chamber. This dates to the early 20th century and was designed to stop "market hunters" and others from obliterating entire flocks with high-capacity magazines or large bore "punt" guns that could fire up to a pound of lead shot.

Indeed, we have laws in all 50 states that limit the number of migratory birds that can be killed by a hunter before having to RELOAD his weapon. As ironic as it seems, we do indeed attempt to protect the number of ducks a hunter can kill at any one time by the use of strict gun and ammunition laws while at the same time refusing to barely discuss, much less offer, the same protection to the citizens of this country.

The NRA spends millions and millions of dollars every year fighting to stop or limit laws that would offer humans the same protections that are afforded ducks. How stupid is this?

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