Congressman Ron Barber addresses the Sandy Hook massacre in today’s Arizona Republic:

On Friday in Tucson, police were at my grandchildren’s school as a precautionary measure. It was an important action to ensure their safety, but nonetheless scared my little ones and their parents. We must not stand by and let our children be put in harm’s way again.

Sadly, those of us in Tucson understand what the people of Newtown are going through today and what lies ahead. We know that it is impossible to make sense of the senseless. And we know that in the end, a community tragedy such as this has the potential to bring people closer together in the common search for answers.

I don’t have all the answers. There is no single law that we can write, no single regulation that we can impose, no single process that we can put in place that will address the many problems that come together to cause such a horrifying tragedy.

But some of the pieces are laid out before us.

I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms — but we must take action to deal with the easy availability of assault weapons and extended magazines.

We must take action to prevent people who are a danger to themselves and others from getting access to these weapons.

We must not wait any longer to address this crisis. But we must also recognize that these issues are not the only pieces in a complex problem to which there is no single answer.

Mark Kelly is also urging action on gun laws:

I just woke up in my hotel room in Beijing, China to learn that another mass shooting has taken place – this time at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in CT. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and the entire community of Newtown, CT. I just spoke to Gabby, and she sends her prayers from Tucson.

As we mourn, we must sound a call for our leaders to stand up and do what is right. This time our response must consist of more than regret, sorrow, and condolence. The children of Sandy Hook Elementary School and all victims of gun violence deserve leaders who have the courage to participate in a meaningful discussion about our gun laws – and how they can be reformed and better enforced to prevent gun violence and death in America. This can no longer wait.
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This article appears in Dec 13-19, 2012.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

19 replies on “U.S. Rep. Ron Barber: “We Must Take Action To Deal With the Easy Availability of Assault Weapons and Extended Magazines””

  3. Why don’t they figure out a way to keep guns away from the nut jobs and criminals and leave the responsible gun owners alone.

  4. I agree, because one drunk driver kills a family, dont mean we OUTLAW cars… same with guns. We prosecute the “killer” not the weapon. Grow Up Barber and quit with the “politically correct” nonsense.

  5. Things I often wonder…
    Why the Rep from our district always addresses people with media outlets NOT based in his district?

    Why do people who commit these horrific acts have to take so many innocent people with them?

    Our Rep is just a YES MAN for the rest of his party, so why would we care? Why do people here just seem to act like a flock and follow along in lock step?

    I could go on and on… but I won’t.

  6. Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett have done studies showing a high correlation between income inequality and social dysfunction. States that have greater inequality show a higher rate of teen violence and other social dysfunction than states with more equality. As the gap between the very wealthy and the middle & lower class grows wider and wider, there is an increase in distrust and teen violence in our culture.

  7. Don’t you just love these politicians who take advantage of a tragedy to jump on the bandwagon for their political benefit?

  8. If anyone of our children had been brutely murdered by an individual with an assult rifle, “perhaps” then we might just take a minute of our time, to reconsider what our priorities are in life.

  9. What did you exspect coming out of the mouth of a socialist marxist liberal. Barber will handcuff the law a bidding gun owner whenever he gets the chance. If so-called “assult rifles” are to be banned then that should go for law enforcement officers as well. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. 2nd Amendment …shall NOT be infringed..
    What part don’t our blind politicans understand.? Apparently all of it. Again it is not the guns, assult rifles or not, it’s the nut.
    If we’d put more GOD back into our schools, our homes, spank a little butt, less broken homes, just may be that’ll help.
    Banning any type of weapon (guns) is not the answer.

  10. Sad sad sad that this man (Barber) is representing Arizona — He does NOT represent my views and I say ARM YOURSELVES the enemy (the Government) is nigh!
    “The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” Thomas Jefferson

  11. Ron Barber is correct and accurate. Those lawmakers in DC that cannot fulfill their jobs and protect this nation needs to be defeated NOW.
    Those stupid comments about our government is the enemy and arming everyone to save lives is just not accurate. These are extremist views. The Second Amendment has been so expanded and stretched by the extremist and radicals we don’t recognized it anymore. We cannot allow our lawmakers to be scared of a few lobbyist that are trying to defeat this nation. NRA and Norquist being 2, and then the powerful corporations trying to take over this nation, Koch brothers and ALEC. These are evil. Arizona are you safer with your gun laws. Has crime decreased? I don’t think so. And another fact is that all states must feed information into the checking system of people buying guns. 23 states are not using this, so back ground checks are not accurate or even reasonable. Wake up people don’t allow a few voices here, or nationally feed you so many LIES.

  12. “””leave the responsible gun owners alone. “” Who the heck is bothering you. Are you feeling guilty gun owners. Are you tired of trying to make up new excuses for all the mass murders. The NRA is silent, still trying to decide what excuses this killer had to murder the kids. Quit protecting an organization that has FAILED POLICIES AND IDEAS.

  13. We…The armed Militia…mentioned in the 2nd Ammendment need to start something that’s been needed for some time. With the help of ALL of the Main Gun Lobby groups, we need to offer our services, (FREE OF CHARGE) to have highly trained ARMED volunteers from local areas stationed at or near all Educational Facilities, during any school functions. I’m sure we have the ability to do this, we just need the Gun Lobby groups to coordinate it. What do ya think? After all…WE are the MILITIA!!!
    This could possibly be coordinated through the local American Legions, VFWs, etc.

  14. I’ve always leaned way right in regards to the 2nd amendment, and I still believe in it at it root intent. However, this latest tragedy has found me really wanting something done on gun control for the first time in my life.

  16. We the people have suffered too many outrageous and cruel tragedies at the hands of sick people using assault weapons. It is time to put a stop to the use of these weapons that were intended for use on the battle field. Congressman Barber, please call for a ban and recall of all assault weapons in this country. Our second amendment right to bare arms was never written to include these weapons of mass destruction.

  17. If the comments that show up in any discussion about gun control don’t prove a link between between mental illness and gun ownership, then I probably can’t convince you that girls like pink. But if you see the attractions, then you will recognize that the problem is bigger than the individuals, it belongs to all of us. We accept the collateral damage of gun ownership almost as easily as we accept the collateral damage from a drone strike. We shop at Wal-Mart, strolling past the AR-15s and ammo. We nod in approval as Barber expresses support for the F-35s coming to D-M. Barber will do nothing to challenge the status quo. Arms dealers are the only winners.

  18. As the scriptures of every one of our faith traditions insist, and as John Donne said so succinctly, “no man is an island…” We can point to an individual killer and wring our hands saying ‘if only we had known’, but it is nearly inevitable that we will have mentally deranged people in our midst. It must not be inevitable that they shall have ready access to weapons of mass destruction. And that is what a Glock witha 30 round clip is, that is what a Bushmaster AR-15 is. And it is we — all of us but especially members of Congress and two Presidents who have allowed the assault weapon ban to expire and have cravenly failed to renew it — who make possible the availability of such killing tools. You must pass strong legislation banning possession of such weapons henceforth and forever. Include a provision for payment for weapons turned in to law enforcement officials and penalties for any civilian found in possession of such illegal items after date certain. And damn the National Rifle Association.

  19. I Also tried to disarm a Psych Patient in California. Here’s WHERE YOU CAN START CHANGE. This man was on heavy Psycotropic meds, and on a “Worker’s Comp Psych Case”…so his Dr’s were Worker’s Comp paid. He KNEW he could mis-behave and terrorize anyone who angered him…and be HOSPITALIZED for being “Suicidal”- and the MAJIC WORD he would use to KEEP ALL HIS weapons??? It was “VOLUNTARY” being hospitalized! While during his FOURTH stint in a mental hospital in Los Angeles- he told me he was going to “shoot himself in the face”. So-I left there, and went HOME and took all of his handguns laying on his bed, and packed them up, went to the safe-UNLOCKED and OPENED DOOR already-and took all the long guns out. One was a “MAK-90″-in the AK47 family”. I showed them pics of a shotgun blast in my home. Then ALL his extensive combat knive collection-that he would CUT himself WITH! His Dr’s ORDERED Me to return ALL the knives! On prescription pad! I can show YOU!!! It also says,”In a few months-also the GUNS!” I REFUSED! I have NO confidence in these ‘Doctors”. I even showed them a pic of a shotgun blast in my living room! NO!!! I am STILL being punished for this. His stockpiles of ammo too, I took away. I AM NOT Anti-gun! I am ANTI_STUPID. BUT now-I wish I just let him kill me. PLEASE-FIX THIS LOOPHOLE NATIONALLY!!! Make it a “FEDERAL CLOSING OF A GIANT LOOPHOLE” Even “Voluntarily” FORCE the Psych Doctors to REPORT to the State Capital DOJ-and BAN these from having ONGOING problems who go OFF at any time-and ends this way/ Don’t wait for the victims to be BABIES. Victims are wives-neighbors/strangers, anyone the VOICES in their minds tell them to KILL. I called Calif. DOJ who “looked into it” since he was “VOLUNTARY” THEY CLEARED HIM!!! NOW he got back his MAK-90…and God only knows what else he has stacked up with AMMO by now. I moved to AZ after divorce. PLEASE! DO SOMETHING. I am STILL being pun ished for doing THIS. I wish now I just let him kill me. NONE of this has been worth it. -Joan Brown mamabirdone@yahoo.com

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