Gun control, Orlando shootings, phony tears

Reinstate ban on assault weapons

Re “Gun used is becoming mass shooters’ weapon of choice” (Page 6A, June 13): When will America wake up to the insanity of allowing assault weapons to be sold for no other purpose than to destroy so many lives? It happened again in Orlando, to 49 people who were enjoying a night of dancing at a nightclub.

This person was on the terrorist watch list but was taken off, so there was no red flag at the time he purchased his guns. The assault weapon ban expired in 2004; why have we not reinstated it? It’s time.

We have invested billions of dollars to protect the public flying with all these security checks; however, we cannot pass a simple law that was already in place for 10 years. Where is the protection for ordinary folks?

Maybe the public should be allowed to file lawsuits against those who continue to sell assault weapons. Maybe then we will see some change.

Background checks are flawed

Re “Congress faces familiar standoff on gun control after killings in Florida” (Page 3B, June 14): The hysteria over gun control has politicians screaming for extending background checks, but few, if any, understand the flawed process. Background checks for gun purchases rely on a review of public records from various agencies. But the submission of the records is voluntary, and agencies either cannot or do not comply.

Prosecution of those lying on their applications is almost nonexistent. More than a dozen mass killers obtained weapons legally despite the screening. The gun-purchase application is a single page with 16 yes or no answers. Terrorist screening currently involves more than a dozen federal agencies that still get it wrong.

Politicians demand action and pass irrelevant laws that cannot be implemented, just to satisfy the voters.

Gun control? But what about cars?

Another mass shooting, and once again Democrats, legislators and our president rant for more gun control laws and getting rid of automatic weapons. Let us look at the figures: Guns kill 33,600 people in America each year, and automobiles kill 33,800 people yearly. Why is there no discussion on a ban of cars?

Whereas the right to have a gun is guaranteed by our Constitution, there is no such guarantee for car ownership.

Phony tears by gay-rights opposition

Does anyone see the huge amount of hypocrisy and phony tears while listening to the comments from Republican politicians over the killing of gays and lesbians in Orlando, Fla.? These are the same Republicans who oppose our right to marry the person we love, who oppose job protections for gays and lesbians, who oppose adoption by gays and lesbians.

I’d prefer fewer fake moments of silence and sympathy, and more real support. Oops, forgot, it’s an election year – not going to happen.

Blame the man, not the gun

As a transgendered woman I feel a responsibility to speak out. In response to the shooting in Orlando, Fla., I would say don’t blame the weapon, blame the man.

If this happened to my loved one I would not get on the anti-gun, anti-NRA bandwagon. My attention would be focused on the individual who committed the act. If we take guns away from killers they will simply choose another weapon. Machete, baseball bat, kitchen knife … you get the idea.

The only way to stop violence is to fight back. If the cowards that perpetrate these crimes were facing armed resistance they would cease to exist. As proof I offer the fact that every time armed resistance shows up in the form of law enforcement or military, the villains are vanquished almost instantly. Only defenseless victims appeal to this kind of weak character.

This story was originally published June 15, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Gun control, Orlando shootings, phony tears."