But I'm not going to let a criminal act scare me into surrendering my rights. Not for 9/11, not for V-Tech. I will not be led so easily by people that want me to be afraid so they can dictate the rules for me.
I'm surprised, because of my military experience, that the shooter killed as many people as he did, especially given that all he had was a 9mm and a .22. I'm surprised that he wasn't stopped earlier. I can be fairly certain how I'd react in that situation, but then, I've got the benefit of training and experience that your average college student won't have. When I go somewhere new, a small part of my mind considers what I would do if attacked there. I view it strategically. Most people do not do this.
The lesson from this is not that we need more gun control laws. If I wanted to kill a lot of people, I could do so very easily with items you can't possibly outlaw. Crazy people will always get body counts. That's always been true. The shooter broke the law before he ever fired a shot, carrying a firearm on a college campus is a felony. That's why, despite Virginia having very loose gun control laws, nobody else in the school was armed. That's another lesson, when law-abiding people are restricted, criminals will be able to harm them.
It's very easy in the wake of a tragedy to cry out for more laws and more controls. It was very easy after 9/11 to pass the Patriot Act. Isn't safety more important then liberty? Why are people so attached to their Constitutional rights? Well, because that's what makes us Americans.
I would consent to requiring people to get a license before purchasing a firearm, and having a safety course and safe gun handling course be a part of that licensing process, and I do think background checks are a good idea. If we have a test to drive a car, we should have one to own a firearm. If there was such a test, I'm sure I'd pass it. I've been taught firearm safety since I was ten or so, and throughout 7 years in the military, where I picked up expert marksman (neat little ribbon) for hitting 43 out of 50 with an M16.
That's why I've got 2 firearms right now, both in a gun case, both with trigger locks. One is a Remington 597 .22LR for plinking and target practice, and a genuine Russian Mosin-Nagant M92 battle rifle. I bought the M92 just recently, I've wanted to own one since I saw "Enemy at the Gates", and it is a genuine piece of military history. Was probably used at the Battle of Stalingrad, given when it was made and where it was made. I like both my guns, I'm responsible with them, I'm safe with them, and I would be very upset if I was told I couldn't have them anymore. Someday I plan to get a couple of handguns, a semi-automatic and a revolver. Probably get a simple 9mm for the semi-automatic, something the wife can use with little difficulty, and a Smith & Wesson .357/.38 for me. The .38 ammo is cheaper for target practice, the .357 more effective for home defense. Someday I will get a .223 AR-10 or AR-15, because their nearly identical similarity to the M-16 means I'll be accurate with them, and I'll know how to clean and maintain them, and they'll be a nostalgic reminder of my time in the military.
I have firearm safety drilled into me. I'm a responsible citizen with the right to own firearms, and I have responsibly kept and operated the ones I have. I will not let fear and cowardice prevent me from getting more. Same as I won't let fear and cowardice dictate my views on foreign policy and on illegal CIA prisons and on torture of people we "rendition".
I realize this won't make me very popular, but hopefully I've opened some eyes regardless. Gun "control" is one of very few issues where I'm not in lockstep with the Democrat zeitgeist, although you'll find more and more people like me in the party each day, as the Republicans drive more away like they drove me away in the past. Do us all a favor, and don't let fear give you a reason to alienate them.