Misam Abidi on Gun Control

Protect gun rights AND prevent mass violence

A: Support the constitutional right, with responsibility and due process. The Second Amendment protects a fundamental individual right to self-defense. Lawful citizens should not be treated as criminals because government failed to confront violent offenders. Protecting gun rights and preventing mass violence are not opposing goals. Tennessee should offer affordable safe-storage devices and voluntary training, improve the reporting of legally disqualifying records, enforce laws against trafficking, and establish due-process protections for responding to specific, credible threats--with evidence and legal representation, and restoration of rights when danger is no longer present. Schools and houses of worship should have access to security assessments, secure entrances, emergency alerts, trained security personnel, responder coordination, and medical preparation. Teachers should not be expected to become armed first responders.