GUNS

The tragedy in NewTown, CT is an unspeakable horror.  I cannot imagine the grief that parents and loved ones are feeling right now for those they have lost.  To think that 20 little children died such a violent death gives me the chills.  The adults who died protecting those children are true heroes.
It is time for us to look at the gun culture in this country.  I know gun lovers will say guns don't kill people, people kill people.  The reality is is that people use guns to kill people.  We have too many guns and people too willing to use them against other humans.
It isn't just one tragedy but all of the tragedies that have happened and still happen every day on street corners in cities and small towns and in homes where domestic violence is all too prevalent.
I cannot see the need for anyone to have an assault weapon in their home.  I agree that hunting is a part of our culture and I have no problem with people having a gun for that purpose providing they keep it safely stored and locked.  I can see no need to have concealed weapons permits.  I don't want to fear going to a mall or a park and having armed folks around me and never knowing which one will all of a sudden decide to shoot people.
Guns are not the only problem.  We have not dealt with mental illness very well in this country.  We have closed facilities that used to treat these people and thrown them out on the streets where they struggle to survive.  We are afraid to identify those who need help and get them the help they need.  This is really cruel treatment.  When weapons are so readily available they can fall into the wrong hands.  Obviously the mother of this most recent shooter had guns to protect herself and they ended up killing her.
Let's have a discussion about the need for more regulation.  The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: "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." 
I do not see that every individual is a militia and the amendment speaks of "A well regulated Militia..."  So we need to honor the words of the Second Amendment and have well regulated gun control as well as seeking to improve the way we deal with the mentally ill.