JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In the wake of the tragedy in Connecticut, the President's new task force on gun violence is already at work. Under Vice President Biden's leadership, work has started on generating ideas to reduce gun violence.
The
White House is looking for Biden to build support for:
- A ban on the sale of large capacity ammunition clips.
- Closing the gun show loophole requiring private dealers to get a federal background check on all sales.
- Renewing the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.
President Obama wants proposals he can deliver to Congress during his State of the Union address in January.
Here at home, Sheriff John Rutherford is weighing in on this big, and controversial issue. He said the school shooting in Connecticut proves life is fragile. And he agrees, it's time to talk about gun control in the United States.
"We do need to talk about gun control," he said. "But we can't do that to the exclusion of what the real problem is, and that is the people who are pulling the trigger."
He went on to say, "I know it's cliche to say guns don't kill people, people kill people. But there's a reason people say that, because it's true."
The Sheriff says the massacre in Connecticut should spur several conversations. Not only about gun control, but about the treatment of people with mental illness, and about a culture that no longer values human life.
"Where kids are being raised in a culture of death. Where they see death and dying all the time, whether it's simulated or real. And they place no value on life. They place no value on their own life," he said.
He says change can start with gun laws, but deeper changes need to be made. He believes the real issue is that many Americans have lost their faith.
"So, this is about culture," said Sheriff Rutherford. "And this is about us having taken God out of our culture, and that's a problem."
"You can write all the gun laws you want," he said. "Laws will not keep this community safe."
