In his letter to the editor response titled “Mandatory reporting of lost, stolen guns unconstitutional,” Jonathan S. Goldstein cites an obscure and barely relevant court decision in an attempt to distract from common-sense gun safety policy.
Sixteen states already have laws that require gun owners to report missing firearms to police, including every single state that borders Pennsylvania. These laws were enacted as far back as 1990, and new states continue to enact them, including some as recently as this year. These laws have been shown to be effective at reducing illegal gun trafficking and straw purchasing, which in turn reduces gun violence.
The author’s assertion that these laws are unconstitutional begs an obvious question: How have the laws in these 16 states been allowed to stand if his argument were true?
Merits — or lack thereof — aside, the author’s ability to provide objective legal analysis of this subject is questionable at best. On his website, he proudly advertises himself as the recipient of an award from the National Rifle Association. Is it any shock that a legal shill for the gun lobby would concoct a strained legal argument opposing common-sense gun safety policy that is supported by responsible gun owners?
The truth is, not only are lost and stolen firearm reporting laws perfectly constitutional, they also help to save lives. Truly that should be our priority. Therefore, I suggest your readers contact their legislators to support such a law in Pennsylvania.
Todd Henkelmann
West Deer