We may be looking at Colorado and ignoring the greater problem - gang violence. To put it in perspective, in the city of Chicago on Memorial Day weekend this year eleven people died of gunshot wounds and at least 50 additional were wounded. The precise number of wounded is not known since some, most assuredly, took care of their wounds themselves rather than be involved with authorities. None of the firearms involved were licensed, registered or in any way legal. The Aurora theater massacre killed 13 and wounded approximately 50 others.

The Aurora theater killings were a one-time event. The killings in Chicago and other cities around this nation continue unchecked and unpublicized. There will be at least as many killed by gang violence this weekend as died in Aurora. The difference is that the gang violence will go on 365 days this year and for as long as we can see in the future. One could ask why care about gang violence - they only kill hoods? But, unfortunately, they do much more damage. They kill innocent bystanders, they make violence and drug money enticing to kids and the violence hollows out our cities.

I do not pretend to have the answer, but I do know that restricting law-abiding citizens the right to their arms is not the solution. Talk about semi-automatic or fully automatic simply puts off the question of where does violence occur, whether or not the arms are registered/licensed. etc. There are hundred or perhaps a few hundred killed by legal arms each year. There are thousands killed by illegal arms in the hands of gangs each year both in this country and in Mexico. It is time to stop focusing on the deaths of the people in Colorado and Treyvon Martin; and start focusing on the problem that is killing our cities – gang violence.