The letter “We need lifesaving gun laws” (June 28, TribLIVE) is full of untruths. It has been illegal since 1934 to own a fully automatic weapon unless you are either a licensed gun dealer or are issued a Special Tax Stamp, pay $200 per weapon and have an FBI background check including fingerprints and passport-sized photo, and last but not least, the police chief or sheriff where you live has to sign off on it. No signature, no gun.
The average person will not own an automatic weapon. Go to a gun store and tell them you want to buy a fully automatic weapon, and see what happens. The AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle; one trigger pull, one bullet fired. It is not an automatic weapon such as the M-16, which the military uses. Even the police do not use fully automatic weapons.
On more thing about laws: Laws are like locks. Locks only keep honest people out of things. Laws only prevent honest people from doing bad things. A criminal or mentally unstable person does not obey laws.
Mike Rock
South Fayette