Another tragic shooting in Newark.

Add another hoop to the permit process. Ban another type of firearm. Create a new registry. Prevent any gun shops from opening within our city limits.

Keep the focus off the real problem of violence. Keep the scapegoat fat and healthy.

Meantime, in the rest of the United States, things have moved forward. Almost 40 states recognize and encourage the right of the individual to provide for his own defense against predators, and in all those states crime has either leveled off or dropped significantly. More importantly, recognizing and encouraging that right puts control back into the hands of those of us who don't have personal bodyguards with us everywhere we go, or secured walls to retreat behind when the day's work is done.

The dictionary defines progressive as making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities. Compare that to the definition of insanity I began this writing with.

Now we have Newark Mayor Corey Booker - with the blessings of Governor Corzine and Attorney General Milgram - proposing measures for his city that are nothing new to New Jersey residents, because we’ve seen them before. Will we finally reach the point of recognizing them as the definition of insanity? Or will we let these self-proclaimed "progressives" continue to make fools - and possibly victims - of us all?