Letter to the editor: Rational gun discussion would be 'real start'

The editorial “Pa. officials make moves on guns” (Dec. 14, TribLIVE) lauds the “real start to a conversation,” referring to Mayor Bill Peduto’s press conference to propose a City of Pittsburgh ordinance banning assault weapons. The Trib’s characterization of the city’s proposal as a “real start” is interesting. These discussions always occur after such tragic events, but end rather quickly when one side wants to impose its agenda instead of having an honest, rational discussion on how to best address the issue. The immediate knee-jerk reaction to start banning things instead of listening to both sides to find a solution quickly ends any further reasonable discussions.

The Trib’s characterization is demonstrative of that obvious bias. What is also illuminating is the Trib’s lack of discussion about our elected officials intentionally violating state law. The editorial points out correctly that current state law does not allow the city to pass any laws with respect to firearms. Where is the Trib’s condemnation of this willful and illegal violation of state law, not to mention the waste of taxpayer dollars by the city defending an illegal ordinance?

If the Trib truly wanted a “real start to a conversation” on this issue, it should push for an honest and rational discussion instead of defaulting to the assault weapon ban mantra.

Mike Sivack

Murrysville