U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta joined the U.S. gun control debate on Thursday when he told troops at a military base in Italy that only soldiers needed armor-piercing bullets or assault weapons.
Asked by a soldier what President Barack Obama would do to protect U.S. school children from gun violence without infringing Americans’ right to own guns, Panetta said action was needed after the attack on a Connecticut school in December in which a gunman killed 20 children and six adults.
He told members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team at Vicenza that there were areas where steps could be taken,
“I mean who the hell needs armor-piercing bullets except you guys in battle?”
In the aftermath of the Connecticut shooting – the latest mass killing in the United States on a list that includes Columbine in 1999 and Virginia Tech in 2007 – Obama launched the biggest U.S. gun-control push in generations.
He asked Congress on Wednesday to approve an assault weapons ban and background checks for all gun buyers.
Panetta, who is on a week-long trip to Europe, was President Bill Clinton’s chief of staff when the United States banned the sale of assault weapons in the 1990s.
“Unfortunately that ban went out of effect,” he said.
He added that he was an enthusiastic hunter.
“I’ve been duck hunting since I was 10-years-old. I love to hunt and I love to be able to share that joy with my kids. But for the life of me, I don’t know why the hell people have to have an assault weapon.”
Panetta said the administration must take measures to protect children from gun violence at school.
“I think this can be done. I think steps can be taken that will not undermine the Second Amendment and at the same time try to protect some of our schools so that the nuts that are out there won’t use these kinds of weapons to wipe them out,” he said.
The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives Americans a legal right to own firearms.
(Reuters)
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4 Responses
But America was founded by law abiding citizens shooting at those in authority. It is a very deep tradition in America that perceives private gun holders as the ultimate defense against either foreign invaders to domestic tyrants. It’s as American as motherhood, the flag and apple pie (none of which are popular with politically correct liberals).
Do you think for one minute the criminal will not be able to get access to assault rifle and hole point bullets? People get a hold of Uzi which is an Israeli weapon in AMerica. obama just wants control. Look to the city of CHicago which has the must stringent gun control in the country and it is the murder capital by guns in the states. When you outlaw guns only outlaws will have guns
It’s not “politically correct Liberals” you Neanderthal…it’s the majority of those with higher education, law enforecement professionals and it seems now the majority of all polled Americans.
You are like pro-war chicken hawks…all ra ra John Wayne, though you never roll up your sleaves and jump in the cauldron yourself…ignore the consequences of your positions…and completely dismiss how out of touch you are with all of Western society
America was founded by people engaged in treason. There was nothing law abiding about them and the belief that private gun holders are currently defending me, you or anyone else from anything in present day America is not supported by anything resembling reality.