Jason Alexander on Gun Control

[Photo from The Randy Report]

Best known, perhaps, for his portrayal of George on "Seinfeld," Jason Alexander has put together a long, well-reasoned essay with regard to a ban on the so-called "assault weapons" which are currently perfectly legal to own in this country.

On Twitter, he wrote:

I'd like to preface this long tweet by saying that my passion comes from my deepest sympathy and shared sorrow with yesterday's victims and with the utmost respect for the people and the police/fire/medical/political forces of Aurora and all who seek to comfort and aid these victims.

This morning, I made a comment about how I do not understand people who support public ownership of assault style weapons like the AR-15 used in the Colorado massacre, http://en.wikipedia.ord/wiki/AR-15.

That comment, has of course, inspired a lot of feedback. There have been many tweets of agreement and sympathy but many, many more that have been challenging at the least, hostile and vitriolic at the worst.

Clearly, the angry, threatened and threatening, hostile comments are coming from gun owners and gun advocates. Despite these massacres recurring and despite the 100,000 Americans that die every year due to domestic gun violence - these people see no value to even considering some kind of control as to what kinds of weapons are put in civilian hands.

Many of them cite patriotism as their reason - true patriots support the Constitution adamantly and wholly. [The] (sic) Constitution says citizens have the right to bear arms in order to maintain organized militias. I'm no constitutional scholar so here it is from the document itself:

As passed by the Congress:

'A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.'

As ratified by the States and authenticated by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State:

'A well regular militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.'

So the patriots are correct, gun ownership is in the Constitution - if you're a well-regulated militia... [Emphasis is mine.]

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Please read the rest of Mr. Alexander's essay here at Salon.com.