Hard questions on AR-15 ownership

I grow tired of the opinion that Mr. Frost brings up, stating that "guns do not kill people; people kill people."

While it is a true statement, however, after mass murder after mass murder, it is a very naive one.

This opinion is always followed by the constitutional right to own a firearm. The second half of the Second Amendment does state that owning a gun "shall not be infringed."

But what about the first half? "A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free state ..."

The militia comprised responsible gun owners and citizens willing to fight along with the Army to defend the homeland. The founders knew that the militia and the gun owners needed to be regulated so the guns would not fall into the wrong hands.

If all people have the right to own a gun, does it have to be an assault rifle? Can the U.S. government make it harder to purchase an assault rifle? The Second Amendment says yes, it can. If everyone can own a gun, then we should make it harder to get an assault rifle. Background checks are necessary.

A mandatory class on gun safety? Raising the age to 25 to own an assault rifle? Psychological testing to test the maturity of the assault rifle owner? Can our society make these changes for the security of our free state?

Lastly, did the Highland Park shooter really need an AR-15 just to have?

Steven Thompson

Arlington Heights