Common Sense Gun Laws: Thoughts on the 2nd Amendment.

On school days I drive my 14-year-old to Portsmouth Middle School. I shouldn’t have to worry that on any given day he could be killed in his classroom by someone with a gun. No parent should have this thought. As we have seen in the news, this terrible atrocity happens anywhere, from a large city, to a small town. I mourn for those who have lost their children to senseless acts of gun violence in schools. I’ve had enough.

Although I do believe in the 2nd Amendment, primarily for sport and home protection, we need a more modern interpretation of the foundational principles. The Amendment needs to be updated to align more with modern firearms technology compared to what the 2nd Amendment stood for when it was adopted in 1791. 

Gun control changes that I support:

• Any transfer or sale of a firearm should require a proper background check.

• There should be a country wide mandate to change the legal age for gun purchases from 18 to 21 years old.

• There should be a mandatory waiting period on firearm purchases.

• I would mandate New Hampshire mental health clinicians and physicians to report serious concerns of individuals to the New Hampshire State Police for Federal background checks if they deem their client to be a risk to the public. 

• If someone is negligent in failing to lock their guns up and provides access to a gun being used by another in the commission of a death or serious injury, the gun owner will be criminally liable for a felony offense. 

• History has proven that police lack proper training when it comes to dealing with school shootings. Unnecessary delays in action increases the chance of loss of life. There needs to be new policies in place for our law enforcement to make them respond quicker to these situations.
  
  Revised gun control laws are needed in New Hampshire and throughout the United States. Legislature must work together to make the necessary changes to make our State and its’ schools safer. I, Rich Clark, support gun control, especially for the future of our children.