Les Miller believes the government can help reduce gun violence

Most polls indicate that Americans are hungry for some type of gun regulation in the wake of the Newtown Sandy Hook Elementary massacre from mid-December, but the latest word from Washington D.C. shows support dying out for such measures in Congress.

When asked if he believes that the government can pass laws that adequately address gun violence, Miller said he believes so.

"If our Legislature and our congressional people bit the bullet and said we would have better background checks, that we would limit the amount of ammunition that can be sold, that we would outlaw assault rifles ... I think we could curtail some of the violence we have now," Miller said.

"It's easy to buy a gun," he continued. " You can buy an Uzi out of the back of a car without a background check. Will we stop that if we pass such legislation?

The Tampa Bay Times Toluse Olorunnipa reported last month that even though more than two dozen gun-control bills have been introduced in the Legislature this year (all by Democrats), none are expected to even be debated.

Miller said he has little patience with gun owners who fear that the government will take away their guns, supposedly a reason why Republicans in Washington are reluctant to support a universal background check law.

"Come on, folks. No one is trying to take away anybody's rights to bear arms," he said."If you're going to legally own a gun, legally own a rifle, if you go through the process of what you have to do to get that, nobody's taking away your rights. We're trying to stop the violence like we had the weekend before last on Sleigh and 50th Street where a guy was gunned down in the broad daylight with a guy who shot him because they had a fist fight ... those guns were not getting off the street in buyback, but I think if we put some things into place, we can curtail some violence in this country. Not all violence."