Republican congressmen take the position that they cannot support a ban on assault rifles because it infringes on personal freedoms. Whether this position results from them being in the pocket of the NRA or whether it truly stems from Second Amendment zealotry, the argument is flawed.

In 1986, Congress passed the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA), which generally loosened restrictions for gun owners. However, it did prohibit the ownership by civilians of automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Since we are not allowed to own bazookas, flame throwers, missile launchers, tanks, or ballistic missiles, our personal liberties are already restricted. So why is the right restriction to ban fully automatic weapons but it is too much restriction to ban semi-automatic weapons? 

Michael Ritz

East Lyme