Yesterday a disgruntled worker in Manchester, CT killed 9 people in his place of employment. The attacker was a driver for a beer distribution company and was being brought in for disciplinary action when he took out a shotgun and started firing. Allegedly, the employee had been caught stealing beer from the company. When police arrived on the scene the employee shot himself before police could react. The problem that I have with this scenario is that this 34 year old delinquint was allowed to purchase a gun in the first place. These types of situations call for the need for stricter gun control laws. People against gun control may say that we need guns for protection, but where is the protection for people that do not buy guns?
I propose psychological evaluations as a pre-requisite to firearm ownership. Psychological evaluations may not turn up all the evidence needed to turn away a person's application to purchase a firearm, but it may discourage those people that are casual gun owners that could potentially use the weapon to harm others. I apologize to those people that use their guns strictly for hunting but something has to be done before other people are senselessly hurt or killed. The use of psychological evaluations could even spur people, such as this employee to realize that they may need additional therapy before owning such a powerful tool. Those without someone to drain emotionally, may not even realize the burdens that they are carrying. Putting weapons into the hands of such people is irresponsible to say the least.
Please encourage responsible gun control. Use trigger locks if you own a gun and keep out of the reach of children. If you are depressed and own a gun please seek professional help. Innocent people need not perish because one is having a bad day!
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