Local gun shop disagrees with gun control proposals

Last month’s massacre in Newtown Connecticut marked a turning point on the nation’s stance on gun control; and President Obama’s announcement Wednesday has many concerned about their second amendment right.

“I hear it all the time, every day. All of my customers are upset,” said Jordan Payne.

For Payne, President Obama’s new gun proposals are personal. Jordan helps run his family’s business — Ross Coin and Gun.

“This is more of a dictatorship than the country has ever seen where they’re going to be told what they can have,” said Payne.

President Obama’s proposal includes universal background checks for gun purchases, a ban on high-capacity magazine clips, a renewed ban on semi-automatic rifles also called assault weapons, and a crack down on gun trafficking.

“If there’s even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there’s even one life that could be saved, then we’ve got an obligation to try,” said President Obama.

But Payne said the proposals put unnecessary limitations on the wrong people. He said the focus should be put on those looking to do harm and not on banning semi-automatic rifles.

“They like the look of them, they like to shoot them, they’re enjoyable to shoot,” said Payne. “It’s no different than someone who likes to drive a $100,000 BMW or have a house in the Bahamas. That’s what they like and that’s what gun people like.”

So we asked your opinion on Facebook — some viewers agreed with the president’s proposals, the majority disagreed and some were indifferent.

In two weeks, the Senate Judiciary Committee will start to consider gun legislation.

House Speaker John Boehner said he would consider gun legislation if the Senate passes it first.