( CNN ) -- On Wednesday night , I hosted a town hall-style debate on guns in America , talking to lawmakers , mass shooting survivors , lawyers , gun lobbyists -- anyone , basically , who has a strong opinion about what I consider to be the single biggest issue facing America today . Since I joined CNN two years ago , there have been a series of gun-related tragedies , including the attack on U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the Aurora , Colorado , movie theater massacre . Each sparked a short-term debate about guns . Yet each debate fizzled out with zero action being taken to try and curb the use of deadly weapons on the streets of America . Now , following the grotesque slaughter of 20 innocent young children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown , Connecticut , I sense that the mood has changed . We have reached a crucial moment in this debate , and I intend to use my platform to continue this conversation on Wednesday night and going forward . The media have previously been quick to move on to other stories after these tragic acts of gun violence . That must change . Opinion : Do n't let this moment pass without acting on gun control . I 've made my own views clear on my show -- the senseless killing has to stop . High-powered assault rifles of the type used at Aurora and Newtown belong in the military and police , not in civilian hands . High-capacity magazines , too , should be banned . And background checks on anyone buying guns in America should be comprehensive and stringently enforced . As President Barack Obama said , doing nothing is no longer an option . But , at the same time , law-abiding Americans who want to protect themselves under the Second Amendment right to bear arms must be respected . As should the rights of Americans to use guns for hunting and sport . This is a vital debate for the country . Some 12,000 people are murdered in the United States with guns every year , compared with just 35 in Britain , where there are strong gun laws . Analysis : Guns and the law . Sandy Hook should , and must , be a tipping point for real action to bring this number down . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Piers Morgan . Watch Piers Morgan Live weeknights 9 p.m . ET . For the latest from Piers Morgan click here .
Piers Morgan : Past gun - related incidents have n't led to any action . He says that must change , and he hosted a debate on the issue . Morgan : Laws must be passed to limit firearms , ammunition and enforce background checks . Rights of people who use guns for hunting and sport must be respected , he says .