THE slaughter of innocents in Connecticut is coalescing opinion around basic proposals to reduce gun violence. From President Obama to the Seattle City Council there are remedial efforts to protect public safety.

On Wednesday, Obama directed Vice President Joseph Biden to lead a White House panel to draft a list of recommendations by next month.

The administration should start with the gun-safety measures the city council will seek from the legislature: a ban on assault-style weapons, a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines and an end to the gun-show loophole on weapon sales and background checks….

The city council also wants the state to have laws regarding trigger locks and safe storage, and features to mark firearms so police can trace fired bullets. Yes, make those requirements part of the basic template.

Maximise efforts to protect the public and responsible gun owners. Stopping the torrent of high-powered weaponry into the culture, and limiting access to its lethal capacities, does not impede or impair home defence, hunting, target practice or constitutional rights….

A 10-year ban, which expired in 2004, prohibited the manufacture, transfer and possession of 19 types of assault weapons. Extending the ban had broad support, but nothing could overcome the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) hold on Congress. The murder of 20 young children and six adults has chastened the hubris of the NRA. That is a grim measure of the horrific tragedy in Newtown.

Even with a ban in place, such legislation typically looks ahead. Society would still be awash in assault-style weapons made and sold before a ban.

The public is saying, “Enough!”

Enforce licensing requirements, broadly require background checks, ban high-capacity ammunition magazines, and prohibit the manufacture and sale of assault-style weapons. Start there. —(Dec 19)