Readers speak out on gun law reforms – needed or not?

In the wake of the mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, among others, the call for gun law reforms has again been brought to the forefront. Recently, a bipartisan U.S. senate group announced a deal that would include support for state crisis intervention orders, funding for school safety resources, an enhanced review process for buyers under the age of 21 and penalties for straw purchasing. Some feel the reforms are not necessary, others feel they don’t go nearly far enough. What reforms do you think should become federal law? 

 

1. Buyers must be at least 21 years old to purchase a semi-automatic assault-style rifle.

Yes 60%

No 19%

Other 21%

Comments:

• Just to buy. Not to use.

• 25 years old or banned entirely.

• A no brainer - a kid can buy a firearm but not be able to buy a drink? Stupid!

 

2. Expansion of background checks with a national database.

Yes 80%

No 13%

Other 7%

Comments:

• Universal background checks, including gun shows and all private sales or transfers. 

• Leave under 18 records private and provide more rehabilitation and guidance services to under 18 youth.

 

3. Banning of the sale of assault-style rifles.

Yes 69%

No 28%

Other 3%

Comments: 

• Should be heavily regulated and require a psych evaluation at the purchaser’s expense.

• Again - duh!!

 

4. National red-flag laws.

Yes 74%

No 17%

Other 9%

Comments:

• Can be abused and politicalized. 

• OK with due process protections.

 

5. Federal funding for armed security in schools.

Yes 54%

No 30%

Other 16%

Comments: 

• Keep the guns out of dangerous people’s hands and we won’t have to turn schools into prisons. Schools need money for things and programs that are already severely underfunded.

• I’m undecided on this. While I want children to be safe, having police in schools hasn’t helped curb mass shootings and has even been detrimental to children.

 

6. Federal funding for mental health services.

Yes 83%

No 10%

Other 7%

Comments:

• Funding for those who wish to be trained. And funding or working with insurance companies to provide more coverage.

• There is a strong correlation between deaths by suicide, and the easy availability of guns in homes. We need to provide mental health services to all who need it. 

General comments:

• We need to enforce laws already on the books. 

• The safety of our children and everyone else should be our higher priority. Prioritizing the privilege of owning assault weapons over the safety of our children is wrong. Vote for politicians that prioritize the safety of our people over the interests of their party. Campaign finance reform is also required so that the interests of the people is the highest priority for our politicians.

• We already have laws for gun ownership. Making more laws will not keep people finding a weapon to hurt others. 

• The majority of our nation believe in reform. People should feel safe to go to church, school, grocery shopping and simply live in their homes. Licensed guns for hunting are one thing, but there is no need for the level of weaponry available to the general public. 

• The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

•  A person’s right to own a gun does not trump a person’s right to live. Assault weapons are designed to kill as many people as possible and need to be kept in the hands of trained professionals. There is an undeniable problem in this country and by making some changes, we could save lives. People fought the seat belt laws for years saying they restricted their freedom. The number one killer of children is no longer automobile accidents, but gun violence. 

• The constitution must not be altered! Access to guns is not the danger, the danger is the politicians on Capitol Hill.

• I believe that gun control is best managed at the state level.

• The simple fact is that the more guns that are in the public’s possession, the more gun deaths and mass shootings there are. The second amendment says citizens are allowed guns in order to maintain a well regulated militia. There is nothing well regulated about gun culture in this country. It’s time to stop the worship of guns and to start valuing the lives of human beings. 

• The 2nd Amendment is absolute.

• I am a legal gun owner. I don’t, however, understand why anyone would be opposed to stricter gun control laws to keep guns out of the hands of those not deserving of the right or responsible enough to own guns. I am also completely in favor of allocating significantly greater funds to provide trained (and armed) safety officers at all schools. 

 

Compiled by Boots Gifford, boots@thedanielislandnews.com