Readers sound off on mass shootings, gun control debate
Taking issue with gun control arguments
To the Editor: The gun control fanatics were busy in Sunday’s Letters. It’s a shame that they waste their time on something so meaningless. Time would be better spent on hobbies that keep them from the political propaganda. Let’s go through some of the arguments.
Demand: Ban assault weapons/weapons of war.
Response: These are not weapons used by our military. They are long rifles made to look scary to anyone who doesn’t know how they function. They are semi-automatic just as most handguns are. Those who claim the Founders wouldn’t want people to have them forget that they wanted citizens to own every weapon available to the military at the time.
Claim: Banning assault weapons would stop the recent killings, including Uvalde.
Response: Looking at Uvalde in particular, nothing could be further from the truth. The shooter had 40 minutes in the classroom. He could have had single-shot derringers and killed as many.
Claim: Banning weapons doesn’t violate the Second Amendment.
Response: It clearly does, given recent rulings. But it also violates the spirit of allowing citizens the power to end tyrannical governments. The proposals never mention total bans, meaning domestic police forces would become super-citizens with special privileges. That is unconstitutional.
Paul Aaron, Flat Rock
Laws only affect the law abiding
To the Editor: Every freedom we have lost is due to the left deciding on an emotional level, a "If it saves just one life...", mantra that is beyond stupid, and putting in place laws that only affect the law abiding.
The ignorant masses that keep electing Democommunists to Congress are always the source of this. You want to limit the age to purchase a firearm Dems? Then, no one under the age of 21 can enlist in the military. No one under the age of 21 can register for the draft. No one under the age of 21 can drink any alcohol. No one under the age of 21 can vote. No one attending college under age 21 can have all their school records kept secret from their parents. If you do that, then no one under the age of 21 is an adult in the eyes of the law. Actually, today very few people under 21 are adults, maybe we should go back to the old ways. If we did, we would have to teach about God and values.
Clint Wilde, Hendersonville
Controlling access to guns
To the Editor: In response to Ed Nielson’s letter stating that once criminals saw violators “prosecuted to the max…there would be an immediate drop in gun crime.” He says he doesn’t see a downside, here it is.
Shooters who commit the massacres are not moved by our laws. They are mentally unstable, hate filled, irrational thinkers. They don’t value their own lives or others. They plan their attacks with no thought of personal consequences.
The murderers in Sandy Hook and Columbine were troubled teenagers who accumulated weapons and planned their attacks well in advance. They had been in trouble with the law before. The shooter in the Buffalo grocery attack researched his victims. He planned his crime wearing tactical gear to carry out his rampage. The murderer in the school shooting in Parkland, Florida had been in trouble since middle school. He had a love of weapons he displayed on social media.
What if none of these murderers bought assault rifles and unlimited ammo? We cannot control the mental health or hate in the hearts of others, we can control access to guns. Society has changed dramatically since adopting the Second Amendment in 1791, time to update our thinking and laws.
Carol Van Doren, Hendersonville
Support these gun control measures
To the Editor: I hunted with my grandfather when I was young. I support peoples’ rights to hunt legally.
In addition to school shootings, be aware the presence of guns in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that a woman will be killed. 90% of gun suicide attempts are successful. All other methods have a 10% success rate.
From 1998 to 2019, France had the second highest number of mass shootings (those with four or more fatalities) with eight. In first place was the USA at 101. The UK --- one. Australia -- one.
All citizens should be able to support the following reasonable measures:
Universal background checks (no loopholes) prior to purchase (supported by 89% of Americans in a recent poll).
Raising the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles to 21.
Eliminating high capacity magazines.
Increased spending on mental health at all levels of government.
Passage of “red flag” laws allowing family and law enforcement to seek a court order temporarily restricting a person’s access to guns when they pose a danger to themselves and others. These laws have been passed in 19 states.
Please contact your Senators and state legislators. Tell them the time for action is now!
Tom Karvonen, Mills River
Say something, then do something
To the Editor: “If you see something, say something. This is the admonition by law enforcement in hopes of curtailing violence and protecting the innocent.
For those elected with the power to make changes, I’d add “…do something.”
“If you see something, say something, then do something.”
Surely the politicians in Congress saw something on May 24, the day television audiences across America were overwhelmed with the slaughter of teachers and children in Texas.
Congress could do something to address the carnage, but they’re taking a two-week break, not doing anything.
Children are worth more than guns, but not to Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, two of the Senators highest paid by the NRA. Burr is on his way out. Time for Tillis to go.
We, the voters, have the power to change the Senate. This November, do something for the kids and each other. Please, vote for Cheri Beasley for United States Senate.
Sandy Weeks, Hendersonville
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Readers sound off on mass shootings, gun control debate
