Trying to provide some clarity on guns Letters to the EDITOR

This is a response to the Feb. 20, 2018 opinion expressed by Mr. Brian Baker.

Being a retired law enforcement deputy, I’ve seen enough grief and problems related to violence (shootings too) to individuals, families and communities.

One of Mr. Baker’s points struck me and I thought he is coming from a “drastic circumstances equal drastic solutions” mentality. I do appreciate his candor on this subject, but maybe I can give some clarity to his thinking.

I agree with him that something needs to be done to “disqualify them from gun ownership” Even my 23-year-old daughter and I have discussed this very thing. She made a great suggestion saying that gun dealers should have a little more authority to ask more specific questions related to a person’s mental health. If there are indicators this applicant should not have a firearm, they can refuse to sell the gun. How about the idea for someone to sponsor a gun buyer? Some accountability somewhere!

I also think Mr. Baker’s idea of hiring retired law enforcement or military people to be a type of “hired gun” is good but more so bad. It sounds like a “mercenary” type of thinking. Plus to say they may “work cheap?” C’ mon, man.

The bottom line is the guns are not the problem. It’s people. Part of the problem can be resolved through giving more authority/requirements to gun dealers to help them identify these mentally challenged people.

I believe more education for the public and schools is necessary. It is one thing to know how to protect yourself, it’s another thing to come together as a community to seek some solutions and wisdom to help combat this issue. To say the problem could “evaporate” is kind of a shot in the dark (pun intended). Casey McMichael

Saugus

Case for concealed carry

It seems that times have changed just in the past few years. Statistics for states with more restrictive gun laws and associated gun violence could be out of date.

On Feb. 21, the California attorney general reported that authorities searched a Temple City home expecting to find four guns last week. Instead, they found an extensive cache, including two fully automatic weapons capable of firing up to 300 rounds a minute, 65,000 rounds of ammunition and 11 so-called ghost guns-firearms without serial numbers. The person having these weapons had several felony charges, including possession of a firearm by a felon. According to the criminal complaint, some of the guns were self-made assault weapons. Pretty scary stuff. No change in the law, age limit to purchase a gun, making types of guns illegal, or lay-down demonstrations are going to prevent someone like this from a random or purposeful act of violence. With the availability of weaponry, the internet providing anyone the capability of being able to make bombs, alter guns to make them more potent, engage in social media with people or causes whom have like-kind aspirations of hate and mayhem, a citizen over the age of 21, with proper training in gun safety and federal and state gun laws, extensive background check, and a training and proficiency qualification, should be allowed to carry a concealed weapon in the state of his or her residency.

The past statistics of states that allow concealed carry do not implement the strict qualifications listed above. Therefore, there are no valid statistics relevant to the determination of allowing the right to carry a concealed weapon increases gun violence.

The Second Amendment states, A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” It was so important that it was the second amendment. Its purpose was to detour a tyrannical government from ruling our country. It does not say anything about having a gun only to hunt or protect yourself at home. With all the sophistication of ways the people could succumb to being overcome in today’s times, its possible the Second Amendment is outdated. However, as it stands, that is part of our Constitution and that should be the law of the land. Tony Matthess

Santa Clarita