This letter is in response to a recent letter entitled “There are ways to protect our most vulnerable people,” which appeared in the Dec. 27 issue of the Times-News.
In the article Elaine Monroe mentions both automatic AR15s and Glocks, both of which are semi-automatic firearms and not automatic, which by definition fire multiple rounds with one pull of the trigger, so Ms. Monroe needs to get her facts straight.
In fact, the AR15 that has garnered so much attention over the last two weeks is no different than the first .22 rifle a majority of most responsible gun owners, myself included, probably would say they learned to shoot.
Both are semi-automatic, have the capacity to hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition and are very dangerous if not handled properly.
I agree the recent events have been a tragic waste of human life, but I also realize that guns are not to blame.
In fact if anyone is to blame it is the people who knew these shooters were mentally unstable and who did nothing to alert the proper authorities because they were afraid or they didn’t want to get involved.
I myself think far too many people are killed each year by drunken drivers, but I don’t think it is the car’s fault, and I don’t think that we should start banning the manufacture and sale of automobiles.
I feel the same way about firearms, and I believe instead of infringing on everyone’s rights we should start enforcing the laws we already have on the books and start punishing the real criminals instead of punishing everyone.
In her letter, Ms. Monroe made mention of how several other countries have tackled the issue of gun control, and if Ms. Monroe wants to leave the United States and move to one of the countries she mentions in her letter I won’t stop her.
In fact, I would respect her decision just as I would expect her to respect the decision of the tens of millions of Americans who choose to responsibly own firearms.
Marc Yonker
Flintstone
Editorials
Enforce existing laws and don’t punish those who obey the law
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Editorial Cartoon - 05/18/2013
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