Florida Newspaper Advocated Gun Control

In other shocking developments of the day, the sun rose in the east.

Assault weapon bill is a start, at least

A start to what? Total gun confiscation?

What would be best for everyone is to restore the federal ban on assault rifles that expired in 2004

Nice to see you (whoever you are, unsigned opinion piece writer)know what's best for everyone.

What's really important in the proposal aren't the increased penalties that call for a minimum mandatory 25-year-prison term for using a semiautomatic or automatic weapon in a crime. There is already a 15-year penalty in place for that, so its questionable whether the added years would really be a deterrent.

Which, of course, should mean "Why do it?"

What's more important is that the bill would be an additional tool for prosecutors going after people who use false identification to acquire the weapons — and also those who knowingly and willfully sell to people using a false or invalid ID. Buyers and sellers could face up to 15 years in prison and face up to $25,000 in fines, greatly enhanced from existing penalties

While I agree that people should use their own ID when purchasing a firearm, I'm less inclined to agree on holding sellers accountable for being duped by criminals. If, somehow, you can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the seller knew the papers were fake, then fine, slap the lawbreaker with huge fines.

But what about the honest gun seller? The one who conducts all his/her business above board and was simply duped? They are going to be victimized again, by this law you think is so peachy. They will incur legal fees they probably can't afford to pay, sending them into bankruptcy and out of business.

But, I guess in your mind, it's a good start.

Full and total firearm confiscation is the goal of totalitarians the world over.