The usual misleading statistics were mentioned in the letter “Immediate action needed on gun safety” (Dec. 24, TribLive), with the same tired lack of context and use of carefully selected data points. Not mentioned is that the CDC gun death numbers include not just homicides but also suicides and accidents. None are good, but let’s be specific about what we want our legislation to accomplish.
The writer points to states with “strong gun laws” as holding the answer. As we know, places like these include New York, Illinois and California and are not exactly known for their public safety.
Our state already has universal background checks for all firearms dealers; restrictions on things like barrel lengths and overall lengths, certain actions and some types of ammunition; and a not insignificant list of persons not to possess firearms of any kind. The federal government has prohibited many of the same firearm types or characteristics, restricted who can possess any firearm, and placed burdensome taxes on many other firearms and their accessories. I have not scratched the surface of laws at the state and federal levels.
It seems to me we have plenty of existing gun laws. Why do people think that the same criminal who ignores laws prohibiting murder, prohibiting their mere possession of firearms or making unlawful the possession of a firearm on school grounds, will suddenly be compliant with the bills they support? The best and only answer is to further abridge my liberty?
Matt Pergar
Unity