Massachussetts model

If we can't seem to agree on a specific action to ban assault weapons, which have only one purpose, to kill and maim people (hunters don't use assault rifles), I suggest that Illinois adopt the Massachusetts gun law which requires anyone who wishes to own a gun (handgun, rifle or otherwise) to first obtain a gun permit from their local police department.

The local police will do a background check on the person, including local knowledge not found in the national database. The law also requires a person to show proof of a four-hour gun safety class before a permit is issued.

With the permit, the person would then present it to the gun shop before a purchase can be made. As we all know, death rates per population by guns in Massachusetts and other states with reasonable gun control are multiple times lower than in the states with no gun regulation.

So, let's pursue local control of gun permits issued by police departments, following the police background check, prior to any gun purchases.

We then check gun shop sales records to ensure only those people with a police-issued gun permit were sold a weapon.

Agencies can make random checks of sales at gun shows and gun serial numbers can be traced back to the permit of the person under which it was sold.

Tom Teune

Wheaton