7/4: Don't blame the weapon for gun violence

Gun violence has rocked Denver in recent weeks. The city’s mayor thinks stricter gun laws may be necessary.

More on that in a moment on the Face The State Radio Minute.

For gun-rights activists, the past few weeks have been full of ups and downs. On one hand, the United States Supreme Court ruled the Second Amendment protects and individual right to gun ownership. On the other hand, a spate of gun violence has rocked Denver, where Mayor John Hickenlooper has publicly pondered the need for a change in municipal gun laws.

The Supreme Court’s ruling overturning a Washington, DC ban should give hizzoner a moment of pause. Violence of any ilk – perpetrated with a gun or with a first – is a symptom of broken families, depressed communities and failing schools. It’s politically convenient, but not fruitful, to target the tool and not the perpetrator of violence.

Those who remember Denver’s “Summer of Violence,” which led to a special legislative session, will recall it was tougher policing, and not gun confiscation, that quelled youth violence. The Mayor should take note.

For FaceTheState.com, I’m Brad Jones.