The shooting crisis at Virginia Tech University has once again sparked the debate over gun control.

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution states "a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Obviously, the need for a state militia has been replaced by the National Guard and Coast Guard whereby trained military personnel are entrusted with the defense of this country against domestic enemies. Their weapons are tightly controlled and safeguarded.

The only two reasons for a citizen to own a firearm is for hunting and/or defense of the household from intruders.

In either case, ownership of a handgun, shotgun or shoulder rifle is more than adequate to satisfy these purposes.

There is absolutely no need for any U.S. civilian to own any weapon more powerful or sophisticated than these. Accordingly, all handguns, shotguns and shoulder rifles must be licensed and registered to the degree necessary to match weapon to owner at the click of a computer key.

Furthermore, if we had prohibited the purchase of more sophisticated weapons, several innocent victims would not have died at the hands of Seung-Hui Cho.

Joe Bialek
Cleveland resident