Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is quoted [1] as saying, “In my view, Illinois’ ban is highly suspect because it broadly prohibits common semiautomatic firearms needed for lawful purposes.” I would like to know what lawful purpose is served by a semiautomatic weapon. Do hunters really need such extreme firepower to kill scary animals? Obviously, there is no legitimate use for semiautomatic weapons in civilian hands. These weapons exist for one purpose only — to kill large numbers of people in a very short time. Massacring human beings is not a Constitutional Right.
[1] “Illinois gun ban case gets reprieve,” p. 1, Chicago Tribune, July 3.
Tom DeCoursey
Oak Park