Anthrax star Scott Ian has called for new legislation to tackle gun ownership rules in America following Friday morning's (20Jul12) deadly cinema massacre in Colorado.
The guitarist, who is a firearms fan, admits he was sickened to hear about James Holmes' killing spree, which claimed the lives of 12 film fans at a midnight screening of Batman film The Dark Knight Rises - and now he wants laws to stop guns falling into the wrong hands.
In a series of tweets, Ian writes, "I am a gun enthusiast that has a big problem with how easy it is for people that have no business owning a gun to get one. The old argument of 'if guns are outlawed, then only outlaws will have guns' means nothing. The 'outlaws' get their guns illegally and use them to perpetrate crimes that get them paid, they don't go shooting innocent people in movie theaters. There's no money in that.
"Inhuman maniacs get their guns legally and plan their murders to the letter. That is what I have a problem with. So, to all my fellow gun enthusiasts, I don't want your guns, I don't want guns in the hands of people not responsible enough to own one. How do we make that work? I have no idea."
Signing off, the Anthrax star writes, "Have a nice Sunday with someone you love and hope that what happened in Aurora never happens again."