Since the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy last week, news and blog sites have consistently published articles and posts – some even well written and thought out – on the topics of if we need more restrictions on guns and can we stop mentally ill people from committing heinous crimes. I believe the answer to both is no.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a former state legislator who earned and maintained an A plus NRA rating, meaning I opposed restrictions on guns and supported the concept of allowing responsible citizens to defend themselves from irresponsible criminals.

I grew up hunting but no longer go because I would rather spend my leisure time playing tennis or watching my kids grow up, but do occasionally like to venture into the woods behind my home for target practice. And I have a valid handgun carry permit.

In my personal and political experience, the major problem with liberals who want to make possession of any gun illegal is one, they don’t own guns themselves and two, their motivation centers more around weakening the political power of conservatives and gun rights activist than is does on addressing why people are committing crimes in the first place.

Let’s first examine some of the gun laws the political and social elite would like to change.

Ban assault weapons

The rifle used by Adam Lanza to commit this horrific crime was a Remington Bushmaster .223 rifle. The clip, or the magazine that contains the bullets, can typically be loaded with up to 20 rounds. His mother, Nancy Lanza purchased the weapon legally and apparently took her son target shooting at a local range in an effort to bond with him.

The first was her right under federal and state laws. The second was a horrible idea.

Banning this weapon would have made no difference in the Sandy Hook shooting because Lanza could have used a variety of other weapons to murder those precious children, including the two handguns in his possession. He was not going to get rushed by a room full of six and seven year-olds, as when he stopped for the one to two seconds it would have taken to reload.

Mandate that clip’s hold no more than 10 rounds

Again, it would not have stopped the Sandy Hook shooting. If you want to make an argument that the theater shooter in Aurora, Colo. last July might have been rushed by adults while he was reloading, I would give you the benefit of listening. Still, I doubt that would have happened with theatre seating and when most moviegoers were panicked or had not idea what was happening until it was too late.

Liberals such as President Obama and Sen. Dianne Feinstein want to ban what they call assault weapons on the chance it will weaken and fragment a group of voters (gun owners) who at times has defeated or ended the careers of many Democrats. Now it’s payback time.

According to the state’s governor, Dan Malloy, Connecticut already has some of the nation’s strictest gun laws. But what Malloy and others want are stronger federal gun laws because he and others realize it is doubtful their laws can get much stronger.

Plus, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to obtain a carry permit or carry a handgun on their person or in their car. Adam Lanza broke the law as he left his home but of course that was apparently after he shot and killed his mother.

By the way, here is another part of the Connecticut gun law that as I read it, would allow a high school student to take a rifle or shotgun on school property.

“It is unlawful to possess a firearm on public or private elementary or secondary school property. This prohibition shall not apply to a person with a firearm carrying permit, with permission from school officials, or while traversing school property with an unloaded firearm for the purpose of gaining access to lands open to hunting or for other lawful purposes, provided entry is not prohibited by school officials.”

Mental Illness and the possession of guns

As to the issue of mental illness, I am certainly no expert but reports today suggest that Lanza killed his mother and went on the shooting spree because he was angry she was considering committing him to a mental institution. It is unfortunate it did not take place earlier as it should have.

Counselors who suspect their patients are dangerous and are capable of going harm to themselves or others should be required to report them to the proper authorities.

How and when that happens should be the focus of the debate surrounding mental illness.

But if you would like to read what a died-in-the-wool liberal thinks about gun control and mental illness, read Froma Harrop’s latest column.

The bottom line is that mentally ill people, especially those under duress are more apt to commit serious crimes unless they are proper supervised, medicated or both. Let’s talk about how that can happen before we pass restrictions on guns that will make no difference in the hands of a criminal or insane person.