A comment someone wrote at the Wall Street Journal about how to prevent the daily atrocities in Idiot America. It was well done and it will be ignored.

We need to do something different. What we’re doing isn’t working. Rehashing old ideas isn’t enough, although there are good ideas out there.

1) Universal background checks. No private sale loopholes.

2) Ban the manufacture, distribution or sale of semiautomatic rifles. Even Scalia in his Heller decision made it clear that the Second Amendment allows it.

3) Ban the manufacture, distribution or sale of .223, .308 and other high velocity cartridges. The public does not need access to these high power rounds for hunting (they destroy meat) or self defense (they are used in rifles).

4) Require gun owners (such as myself) to demonstrate proficiency operating, maintaining and storing their guns and ammunition and obtain a gun license.

5) Require insurance for each weapon, and hold the owner responsible for damages done by their weapons.

We need to put serious emphasis on the “well regulated” clause of the Second Amendment. Read Heller. It says less than most gun fans think.

-- David Van Wie