Gun control: The present gun laws are sufficient.

Automatic weapons are highly restricted and military-type weapons, such as hand grenades, are banned from civilian hands.

We, as a society, become remorseful at any shooting where a bad guy shoots and kills innocent people, no matter their age. So discussing gun control from time to time isn't a bad thing.

However gun owners don't trust our politicians and become spooky at the hint and remote prospect of the government taking our firearms.

The following quotes are from the Gun Control Hall of Fame, by Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership: "We can't be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans..." Bill Clinton, USA Today, 11 March 1993, pg. 2a.

"Gun Registration is not enough." Attorney General Janet Reno, 10 Dec 1993.

"Waiting periods are only a step. Registration is only a step. The prohibition of private firearms is the goal." Attorney General Janet Reno, Dec. 1993.

"What good does it do to ban some guns? All guns should be banned." Senator Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH).

"This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!" Adolph Hitler, 15 April 1935, in address to the Reichstag.

No wonder United States gun owners are concerned when the government begins to toy with gun ownership. The cry comes from the heart of United States citizens and builds to a loud shout as if the words come from one source, "Keep your hands off my guns." When a bad guy is confronting my wife in a lethal manner, I want her to put five .38 rounds in his chest.

The current gun control scare is demonstrated by the fact manufactures are working overtime to make all types of firearms available to citizens. Ammunition manufactures are working 24/7 and are unable to keep the supply line partially full.

Ordinary citizens are buying ammunition at a record pace, with some retailers limiting the number of boxes a person can purchase. The same goes for firearms. Simply stop by your favorite sporting goods store and take a look at the shelves.

Military assault rifle

The musket was used to fight the Revolutionary Way, so when those soldiers returned home, this firearm was a military assault rifle, but they also used the rifle for hunting. The M-1 Garand was one of the military assault rifles of World War II, but the soldiers of the time also used it for hunting after they returned home. Both of these firearms are available for purchase and hunting today.

What people are calling a military assault rifle today is mainly the AR-15. By the way, AR does not stand for assault rifle, but either ArmaLite Rifle or the first two letters of ArmaLite. There is a misconception floating around with the notion an AR-15 can't be or isn't used for hunting. Why not?

The AR-style rifles are chambered in .22 and on up to .243, .308 and other calibers. An AR-style rifle may not have the appearance of what your grandfather and father took to the field after deer and elk, but these weapons are just as effective.

But why do hunters need to own so many firearms? Because this is the United States and we are allowed to own firearms and the second amendment doesn't limit the number.

A friend stopped me cold with a question recently.

"Do we really need a magazine holding 30 rounds?" he said.

Well, having a magazine holding 30 rounds is not necessary for me to shoot a deer or an elk. When it comes down to the bottom line, perhaps all firearms should be of the single-shot variety.

A muzzleloader rifle is a single shot and so is a bow. Hunters take many big game animals with muzzleloader firearms and bows every year. But we are an innovative society. We have developed rifle magazines which will hold 10, 20, 30 and more cartridges.

Do we need them? No, but it is our choice to purchase them if we want to own them. I might enjoy owning a blue Dodge Ram 1500, but my hunting buddy might want his to be red or white. Plus we are not limited to just three colors but 12. The choice of the color of my Ram is mine and only mine.

A common phrase these days goes something such as this, "If it saves just one life, wouldn't you want more gun control?"

My answer, "If vehicles were controlled to a maximum of 65 miles per hour, how many lives would we save? After all if it saves just one life, wouldn't you want to restrict all vehicles to 65 mph? How about 60 or 50 mph?"

Universal background checks are out of the question, as they will never work. If I sell a .30-06 to my best friend, the sale will not be known to anyone, but the two of us.

I don't expect to register my firearms with any government agency, as they have no need to know what types or how many I own.

We already have enough gun control laws on the books. These laws simply need to be enforced.

To the politicians trying to restrict my second amendment rights I say, "Keep your hands off my guns."