Why can't we keep guns away from crackpots?

As the president prepares to use his executive power to put some common sense screening for those purchasing online or at gun shows, I must respond to Mr. Schwanbeck's letter of Jan. 2. He, as many others have, claims that a citizen with a hand gun could have prevented recent mass shooting.

I don't think any of them are thinking rationally. How does the average person with a handgun have a chance against someone with a rapid-fire assault weapon and body armor?

But there is something that would have prevented all the shootings: if our government officials had the nerve to reinstate the ban on assault weapons. These are made only for killing, and killing as many as possible in the shortest amount of time.

Mr. Schwanbeck also claims that "The bad guys will always get guns." He is right about that since criminals or the mentally ill can easily buy guns online or at guns shows without any background checks.

President Obama wants to close this loophole. I really don't understand why any rational person would oppose any law that helps stop guns getting into the wrong hands. Are there any gun owners who do not fall for the knee-jerk reaction of those who claim "they are trying to take our guns away?"

No one wants to take your guns away. And we really should be more afraid of crackpots with guns, like the terrorists that have taken over our wildlife refuge in Oregon, than any gun control laws.

Margaret O'Neill

Palatine