Readers express frustration and outrage at the failure to pass stricter gun laws. “What about my right to live in a safe community?” one asks.
To the Editor:
Another mass killing by someone with an assault weapon. I’m so tired of hearing about these events. I’m tired of the arguments from those who claim it’s their right to own such a weapon for self-defense. I’m tired of the platitudes and “thoughts and prayers” from elected officials. And what I’m really tired of, and outraged by, is the inaction by Congress to do anything about the incessant stream of murders by perpetrators using these weapons.
What about my right to live in a safe community? What about my right to be able to go shopping, or to a restaurant, a park, a concert, a nightclub, without fear of being murdered by someone with a weapon designed expressly for mass killing?
What about the rights of my children and grandchildren to complete their education, work in a safe place, get married and raise a family, and grow to a ripe old age, without worrying about being gunned down by someone with a grievance that has nothing to do with them? When will our elected leaders take steps to stop this carnage?
Congress must require background checks for all buyers, and assault weapons and large magazines should be permanently banned.
Lawrence Allen
Wake Forest, N.C.
To the Editor:
Re “When the Filibuster Turns Deadly” (column, March 18):
Just four days before the mass shooting in Boulder, Colo., Gail Collins wrote that the House “just passed a couple of very, very moderate gun safety bills.” H.R. 8 strengthens enforcement of the Brady background-check law by requiring that all gun sales go through background checks. It closes the loophole that permits buyers to purchase guns from private, unlicensed sellers, including at gun shows and online, with no background check.
Republicans used to be for enforcing our laws. Even the gun lobby used to say “just enforce the laws.” Well, now we’ll see which senators are for enforcing our laws, and which are for helping the gun industry sell guns — with no background checks — to criminals, domestic abusers and others.
Firearms are the leading cause of death of Americans under 20. Many of those deaths are caused by people who could not pass a background check, but obtained a gun because of the loophole that H.R. 8 closes.
Whether or not this bill would have helped prevent the Boulder tragedy is still unknown. Nevertheless, the bill is desperately needed, and senators’ votes will be important issues in coming elections.
Griffin Dix
Kensington, Calif.
The writer’s son was shot and killed in 1994. He is co-chair of the Oakland/Alameda County Brady Chapter.
To the Editor:
On Tuesday morning I turned on CNN for further information on the Boulder shooting. As the list of victims was read, I heard my friend Suzanne Fountain’s name and age read. I hoped it wasn’t her … but it was. She was a lovely person, a devoted mother to her son, Nate, a kind, loyal, supportive friend. A senseless act of violence striking another community.
The time for universal background checks is now, and a ban on all assault weapons. The general public does not need access to military-grade weapons. Unless the necessary legislation is enacted into law, sadly and tragically someday it might be someone you know, someone you love, someone you didn’t have to lose too soon.
Tell Congress it’s time to step up for all of us and all those lost to gun violence.
Patricia L. Roth
Everett, Wash.
To the Editor:
American lawyers love to sue companies that behave badly in a way that results in injury or death. And the lawsuits they bring and judgments they win change the behavior of those companies. But the trial lawyers can’t sue gun manufacturers for the production and promotion of inherently dangerous products because of federal law (the hilariously named Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act) that immunizes the gun and ammunition makers and dealers from liability when crimes have been committed with their products.
Repealing that immunity and making gun makers subject to normal civil liability, like any other business, will do more for “gun control” than any of the complex, cumbersome and controversial measures being touted (and there is no Second Amendment issue).
And states should enact legislation making it clear that individuals who knew or should have known that a gun owner is mentally unstable have liability to the victims and anyone who transfers a gun to anyone (other than to a licensed dealer) who subsequently commits a crime with it should also have liability.
The prospect of million-dollar judgments will make everyone involved in the chain of production, sale and transfer of firearms much more careful than anything else being proposed.
Robert Atkinson
Sparta, N.J.
To the Editor:
After reading “We’re Stuck in a Cycle of Violence. How Come?,” by David Leonhardt (The Morning, March 25), and seeing the statement “More than half of gun deaths are from suicides,” I would say we have a suicide problem in America as much as a gun violence problem.
Michael J. Broyde
Atlanta
"control" - Google News
March 26, 2021 at 03:01AM
https://ift.tt/3tSpX70
Opinion | ‘Tell Congress It’s Time to Step Up’ on Gun Control - The New York Times
"control" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3bY2j0m
https://ift.tt/2KQD83I
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Opinion | ‘Tell Congress It’s Time to Step Up’ on Gun Control - The New York Times"
Post a Comment