Regulating gun dealers will not work

I write this in response to your advocacy for state regulation of firearms dealers.

Illinois has failed its citizens in nearly every aspect of government, yet you assert that it can be trusted to address "gun violence" by further regulating an industry that has been federally regulated for 50 years? History has shown us that the more functions/responsibilities government usurps, thereby unavoidably eroding its citizens' freedoms, the more it assures that it will do none of them well.

The assertion that Illinois can handle this new responsibility well, to say nothing of fairly, which I do not for a second believe, is a fairy tale or a lie, depending on who's mouthing it. The purpose of this legislation is not to end "gun violence." It is to put those regulated out of business.

The problem this misguided legislation purports to address - violence - is rooted in human nature. Over the last couple generations, too many of our children have been poorly raised in homes which, if not plainly broken, did not instill lessons of discipline, responsibility, self-control or respect for others. This problem took generations to bear the results we are suffering through now. Assuming we can work up the courage and honesty to admit where we went wrong, it will take generations to correct. Unlike gun control, it will be far from easy.

Resorting to the simple-minded and lazy non-solutions of gun control only assures that the problem will live on. If this nonsense is enacted, then a few years down the road when it has failed to fix the problem, as it assuredly will not, then more simple-minded, lazy non-solutions will be called for. And the people will continue to suffer and pay with their freedoms.

David Graham

Lombard