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I've come to the conclusion that military style weapons really don't have any place in our society. We ought to reinstate the assault weapons ban that served us well for 10 years from 1994 to 2004.

I think America's obsession with guns and with violence in media and society is a horrible sickness.

I am struck by how casually we as a nation react to the carnage in Iraq.

This is all about a media war that continues to rage between the old and new media. Unfortunately for our soldiers, these brave Americans are caught in the crossfire.

We are battling fanatics who kidnap and behead civilians and shoot fleeing children in the back. There can be no dialogue with such people, and the American people understand this.

We are protecting civilians. We are unarmed. We are no threat to you. Please do not shoot.

The United States is a violent military state. It's been involved in military action all over the place.

The disconnect between America and its military is shocking.

The issue of assault in the military is something that they've gone to great lengths to try to deal with - and have not entirely dealt with yet.

We have, for whatever the reason, disturbed people... who sometimes do terrible, violent things, and sometimes those of us who serve in elected positions are the target.