Despite the conclusions of the National Rifle Association, there is no intention in the present discussion to remove the right of ordinary citizens to have weapons in their homes.

The big question is what is the need for assault rifles and 10-plus clip magazines for weapons to be used for hunting, sporting or protecting your home and family.

How many rounds from a Glock are needed to take down a charging 6-year-old boy? How many children can you kill with a Bushmaster rifle and a 50-round magazine?

I think it is truly unfortunate that the coroner in Newtown, Conn., did not invite Sen. Lindsey Graham and the NRA's Wayne LaPierre to view the autopsies of the bodies of the children in that school. In fact, the coroner should bring pictures of their bodies and present them to the Senate committee to help with their deliberations. It is said that one of the 6-year-old girls had seven bullet holes in her little body.

With its openly admitted membership roll of just over 3 million members, the NRA certainly has a big stick to carry when it comes to talking to our legislators. Perhaps it's time that our legislators start listening to the more than 300 million people in the United States who are fed up with the way things are going. It is time to make military-style assault weapons and huge magazines in more traditional weapons illegal to all but the military and official law enforcement agents.

Wesley Taylor

Hilton Head Island