In the 1960s, I was a U.S. Air Force officer in a nuclear missile unit. The missiles were the most lethal weapons of the time, able to kill millions of people on the other side of the world in half an hour. I also received small-arms training and had to carry a gun when in possession of highly classified documents.

But far beyond me, all through our nation's history, veterans have struggled, sacrificed dearly and stood ready to preserve our freedom, safety and security.

Yet also, as many people from our Founding Fathers on have told us, with our freedom comes an obligation to always consider the well-being of our greater society. So, we have laws that prevent abuse of our freedom in ways that can harm other people. For instance, while the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, we cannot yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater, perjure ourselves or infringe on someone's copyright.

With regard to our Second Amendment right to bear arms, it has now been a little over a year since the nation was shocked by 20 children and 6 teachers gunned down in Connecticut. But this carnage also goes on day after day. Besides the mass shootings that we all know about, more than 30,000 people a year die in America from gun violence, mostly one and two at a time.

http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Wolfer-New-legislation-can-help-curb-gun-5128669.php?cmpid=opedhphcat