Letters to the Editor: The obvious reason why photo ID for guns but not voting makes sense
To the editor: A letter writer poses the following question: "Since voting is a constitutional right and the Democrats are pushing to allow voting without identification, then applying the same logic to firearm ownership, which too is a constitutional right, should people be able to purchase a gun without any identification?"
There are several good answers to this question, but the simplest is probably that firearms are abused on a daily basis, whereas voting, despite what Republicans may wish you to believe, is not.
Glenn Rogers, South Pasadena
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To the editor: I object to the false equivalence on voting and gun ownership presented by a letter writer.
Democrats and others support proper registration and voting for all citizens. A vote cast without a photo ID is not voting "without identification," because at the polling place the voter states their name and address, and this information is checked against the voter list.
A similar process covers mail-in ballots. There is nothing "unidentified" about it. Any discrepancies are noted and can be resolved via rejection of that ballot, voting using a provisional ballot or further investigation and prosecution.
It is so easy to misrepresent the position of one's opponent; The Times shouldn't help anyone do that.
Richard Benson, Altadena
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
