At AOL.com, we were shaken by the senseless and tragic events that unfolded last Friday in Newtown, Connecticut. It's our job to curate the news, even the most difficult stories, but at the same time, we grieve along with you for the lives that were lost, both the young and those of the adults who dedicated themselves to nurturing America's youth.
While we are inspired by the heroics of people like Victoria Soto, we wonder what great things she may have gone on to do in the future had she not been forced to sacrifice her life to prevent the senseless killing of children. To that end, we feel strongly that it's incumbent upon us to do something that makes a difference.
We're not a political website and we typically shy away from editorials. But we also know the status quo surrounding gun violence in America is unacceptable.
So we're doing four things today.
First, we're observing the national web moment of silence on AOL.com at 9:30 a.m. in honor of the Sandy Hook victims.
Second, we're joining with 750 mayors and other leaders in the Demand a Plan campaign (http://www.demandaplan.org/) to ban high volume assault weapons and require criminal background checks for firearms. This is a sensible idea and is in line with our commitment to family safety.
Third, we know not all of our members agree on potential changes to gun laws. So if you have different ideas on how to prevent tragedies like the one in Newtown, please let us know in the comments area below and we'll share the best of them on AOL.com. This isn't about ideology -- it is about reducing the number of mass murders, so please share any realistic solution you may have.
And fourth, we're sharing how the nation's elected representatives have voted on gun laws to allow you to see where your representative stands, and we urge you to contact them to express your point of view on how to prevent these tragedies.
Source: Project Vote Smart
Graphic by: Chris Spurlock/THE HUFFINGTON POST
Thank you,
The AOL Homepages Team
frank
Dec 21st 2012,
6:05AM
Ban all automatic weapons except to the military & law enforcement
Russ johnson
Dec 21st 2012,
6:16AM
You sound stupid. There is a defacto ban on automatic weapons already.
Justin
Dec 21st 2012,
6:33AM
You obviously have no clue about firearms.
Jim
Dec 21st 2012,
6:23AM
Frank
Automatic weapons already are banned unless you get a permit and very few people have one. You are thinking that semi auto is automatic and it is not.
Theodore Pruitt
Dec 24th 2012,
10:29PM
No, don't ban any of our guns.
Theodore Pruitt
Dec 24th 2012,
10:29PM
No, don't ban any of our guns.
jmpowi
Dec 21st 2012,
6:23AM
automatic weapons? This is the problem you dont even know what you are talking about, automatic weapons have been baned for 50 years or more.
rick thing about guns ya'd never said that
Dec 21st 2012,
6:22AM
yeah ok let them incrimentally take all your rights if ya knew a thing about guns ya'd never said that
Lohe
Dec 21st 2012,
7:54AM
Ban ALL automatic weapons to the public
Dave
Dec 21st 2012,
6:28AM
Uh Frank, automatic weapons have NEVER been leagal to purchase.
Some people need to get educated before they opine.
Sam
Dec 21st 2012,
6:21PM
Our forefathers never envisioned the weapons that have been developed today for strictly military purposes. Give the hunters their guns, but recreational shooters do not need 70 round clips. Banning such weapons is the very least we can do as a civilized nation. I applaud AOL for taking this stand.
Jamie
Dec 21st 2012,
6:30AM
I bet my SKS will still kill a person through a phone book of laws, and bans. What law will stop a gang banger, or a mental case from picking up a gun. Wether it be Automatic or not, and blowing our brains out. You gun ban nuts have it backwards. An armed state, is a peacful state. If you arm all the teachers, and train them to use the weapon. Boom our kids are safe.
WALLY
Dec 21st 2012,
6:53AM
Automatic weapons are already baned. COOLER HEADS MUST PREVAIL.
KENNTH FAGIOLI
Dec 21st 2012,
6:34AM
I hope youe family dies from a slow painful death of cancer, you terrorist trader. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
Raymond Piper
Dec 21st 2012,
6:42AM
Thomas Jefferson wrote that the 2nd amendment was necessary for citizens, "to provide protection against a government out of control." Looking at our government today, I do not think that taking guns out of the hands of citizens is provident. We need to be able to protect ourselves. I don't like to think of me depending on the government for anything.
Michael Hensley
Dec 21st 2012,
6:38AM
Auto weapons are not even used by the Military ( except for special forces ) the weapons are now semi with 3 shot burst capacity. All full auto weapons can be purchased as long as one pays the federal Tax and cannot be bought or sold unless through a Licensed Class III Dealer. And you are subject to a visit at their whim by the federal agencies to see if you still have the weapon.
Gary
Dec 21st 2012,
6:41AM
Continuation of thier agenda to disarm the American public. The DHS held training exercises in Newtown in 2010. Why Newtown?
Dr. Michael Bowen, PhD
Dec 21st 2012,
6:49AM
Good idea, except that all AUTOMATIC weapons are already disallowed to indivduals. The mentally ill shooter used stolen "semi-automatic" weapons taken from his mother, a person who had passed a background check and owned them legally. The guns used to shoot Gabby Gifford, as wll as those used by Jared Loughner, and at Columbine, were all misused "semi-automatic" weapons that were sold lgally to responsible gun owners. NONE of these incidents included "military style" AUTOMATIC weapons.
Tim
Dec 21st 2012,
6:49AM
Why do people and politicians worry about assult weapons. Give me a good 12 Ga. pump shotgun with a sawed off barrel and 20 rounds of double )) buck shells and I can do much more damage than any assult rifle.
We just need to keep all weapons out of the hands of idiots.
kevin
Dec 21st 2012,
6:50AM
The military are the ones that killed those kids at kent state