While the U.S. Supreme Court, in District of Columbia v. Heller 2008, affirmed the 2nd Amendment rights of Americans to own guns, this court’s ruling did not preclude government from legislating gun-control measures.

The silence from the Washington, D.C., office of the National Rifle Association was deafening in the days following the horrific shooting of schoolchildren and school staff members in Newtown, Conn., last month.

Now is the time for Congress to pass a permanent ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Now is the time for the NRA to shed its paranoia and come to the realization that assault weapons such as the AK-47 and AR-15 belong on the battlefield and not on the streets of America.

Now is the time for dealers at gun shows to be required to do background checks before selling firearms to the public.

Now is the time to hear from those members of Congress who have the courage to eschew political expediency and the status quo, and put the interests of the American people ahead of the interests of the NRA and the gun lobby.

Now is the time.