Punish bad guys, not all gun owners

After reading the letter, “More guns doesn’t mean fewer crimes,” I have to wonder how people think.

Some statistics from the Violence Policy Center are quoted. Gun owner opponents like to quote statistics from their organizations, but they never use FBI statistics. Could it be that they would see that the FBI statistics only prove that guns do help prevent crimes?

The tragedy in Tucson is disturbing to say the least. One of the problems with what happened is the offender never should have been permitted to buy a weapon. Is that the fault of the gun? Hardly. Everyone knew that the offender had problems, but what was done about it? Nothing. Could more have been done? Probably, but due to budget cuts, others not wanting to get involved or get someone in trouble, all contributed to it. Also where do you go for help? It is very frustrating. I’ve been through that myself.

Banning the gun or the magazine capacity, of an inanimate object, is not the answer. It’s a tool, it cannot fire by itself, even if dropped, unless it’s been tampered with. A gun was used to kill and injure, so ban them? If a ball bat or golf club is used to kill or injure, why not ban them as well? Doesn’t make sense. Pistols were originally made for self-defense. Do you really thing that the police can protect you? No, if they could, most criminals would be arrested at the scene of the crime. Judges and sheriffs are now telling citizens that they should receive proper training and then arm themselves. Automobiles cause much more death and destruction, and you don’t even have to prove that you are sane enough to drive. People have to be held accountable for their actions.

I suggest that one gets the correct facts, not from some organization which will skew the numbers for their own uses. Rather than putting the responsibility on an object, put it on the person who illegally obtained/used the item, whether a firearm, ball bat, automobile, and make the offender pay the proper penalty. Don’t make it any more difficult for law abiding citizens to lawfully own and use their firearms.

David H. Holtz Sr.

Elgin