Support bill that would reduce gun violence, Jackie Hilly, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence

February 20, 2011 The Journal News

Our American dream is dying. Fully loaded, rapid- fire weapons are killing our hopes and our futures.

In Tucson, a deranged man had easy access to a gun he should not have had. He was able to legally purchase it and lethal, high-capacity magazines to make the carnage he planned as deadly as possible. He knew that more bullets would mean more death.

On a bright warm Saturday, ordinary Americans were going about their morning errands.

A federal judge stopped by to say hello and thank you to a young, talented member of Congress who had supported funding for federal courts.

Retirees concerned about increasing costs of health care, housing and the future of Social Security, found their way to the Tucson Safeway to talk to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Young congressional staffers who regularly work around the clock were there setting up for "Congress on Your Corner."

And in a cruel stroke of fate, 9-year-old Christina Taylor-Green visited her member of Congress and role model. They were in the right place doing the ordinary things we do every day and they were gunned down.

Originally designed as a weapon of war, high- capacity magazines will make any killing spree more lethal. One simple way to prevent future slaughter is to pass HR 308/S32 legislation sponsored by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., and Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., to ban the sale and manufacture of high-capacity magazines with more than 10 bullets — like the ones used in Tucson and other mass shootings.

The sale and manufacture of high-capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds has been outlawed in New York since 1994.

These magazines were also unlawful under federal law from 1994 until 2004, when Congress and President George W. Bush failed to renew the assault weapons ban and the sale and manufacture of high- capacity magazines became lawful once again.

In the years following 2004, high-capacity magazines have been used in every mass shooting.

In 2007, the Virginia Tech shooting: 33 dead, 15- round magazines used, hundreds of shots fired; 2008, the Binghamton shooting: 13 dead, 99 rounds fired, 30-round magazine used; 2008, Northern Illinois University shooting: six dead, 21 wounded, 33- and 15-round magazines used; 2009, the Fort Hood shootings: 13 dead, 30- and 20-round magazines used; 2010, Connecticut Beer Distributor shooting: eight dead, two wounded, also featuring high-capacity magazines.

Every member of New York's congressional delegation should support the McCarthy/Lautenberg bill by becoming a co-sponsor. New York has one of the lowest rates of gun deaths in the country, and, not coincidentally, has a strong background- check system and a ban of high-capacity magazines since 1994.

In a survey after survey, most Americans including the majority of gun owners and members of the NRA, support sensible gun laws.

We are calling on Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-Mount Kisco, to immediately sign on and co-sponsor HR 308/S32. Despite our own state ban on high- capacity magazines, New York needs the federal law because the majority of illegal guns and high- capacity magazines used in crime in this state come from other states with weak gun laws. New York's members of Congress should support our law enforcement officers by making sure they are not outgunned by criminals with more firepower. They should do everything possible to protect our families and communities.

We all have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but can only realize our dreams if we live in a safe country, where dangerous people cannot massacre us or our loved ones with high capacity magazines on bright Saturday mornings.

The writer is executive director, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.