It is worse than punishment. And it is not about it being a privilege. It is the taking away of an existing right. I currently have the "right" to keep and bear arms. It is enforced in various ways by various States (and I hope the current DC case will resolve that mess). But it is in fact a right. And as I have said many times. In order to repeal a right, you must have a reason. That reason cannot, nor should it be, that someone might do something horrific. If they do, that is a crime and they should pay the price. But the hallmark of a free society, is that certain rights are considered automatic and repeal requires a very difficult standard be reached. This is one of our oldest rights. None of the reasons anti's give will resolve the problems they seek to resolve, and will simply result in the overwhelming majority of responsible gun owners not having their weapons. In fact the evidence is pretty good that it would result in more violent crime, deaths, and injury.

I repeat another fact. Fertilizer, kerosene, and a few other items were used by a decorated veteran to kill an awful lot of folks, including a bunch of babies in a daycare center, in the worst act of domestic terrorism in USA history. There have been a number of other acts or attempted acts that tried using the same stuff. Terrorist networks teach how to use these items. I have yet to hear the cry for banning or limiting access to these items.

Mick