Guest columnist Josh Hildebrand: Lack of will keeping us from meaningful gun control

I am a former lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps. I am also a resident of Highland Park, a town that experienced a mass shooting during its July Fourth parade.

We must realize we were not born with the Constitution as something that outright guarantees our rights without understanding that the freedoms it affords come with great responsibilities - to ourselves, each other and especially our children - the future of this great nation.

If we cannot be a nation of responsible, law-abiding, kind and respectful people, then we will fall, like others have before.

Politicians and companies willing to procreate the need for the kinds of weapons used in mass casualty events should be considered part of domestic terrorism. There is no reason that a semi-automatic or automatic weapon with a high-capacity magazine (anything over 10 rounds) should be available to the public. There is a lack of backbone, true patriotism and sheer will in our Congress to enable true change.

High-capacity magazines such as the ones used in Highland Park are military grade, meant for a battlefield or law enforcement encounter, where you have an equally armed, equally aggressive adversary. They are not for civilian use.

The Second Amendment was drafted and written into law nearly 231 years ago. It said, "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." That is not the individual or a group of individuals who think they are capable of protecting the sanctity of this nation with arms.

The right to bear arms is not a right. It is a privilege. The militia referenced here is today's National Guard, whose weapons are stored safely.

When it comes to gun legislation, we are abusing our own Constitution for personal and political gain.

I implore our legislators to reevaluate where we stand on gun laws entirely. It is not enough to "strengthen" the background check process and increase the legal age of purchase.

The gun industry is like the tobacco industry. People know it's not good for you, but they do it anyway, because they're addicted to the thrill, the profits of sales and myriad other reasons.

But whatever the reason, this issue is tearing the country apart.

We need to simplify the problem and create a sustainable and implementable solution that has a real impact for us and the future generations of this country, like the ones who had to run from the attack on their lives in Highland Park.

• Josh Hildebrand is a former lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps with 20 years of active and reserve experience, including overseas combat. He resides in Highland Park.