LTTE, submitted today
An open letter to members of Congress, to our state legislators, to our governors, to our county commissions, to our city councils and our sheriffs:
We all watched in horror as events unfolded in Aurora. In Tucson. At Columbine. At Fort Hood and Virginia Tech and so many bloody others. Then, the shootings at Newtown happened and our horror was compounded. The massacre of children compels universal revulsion.
It’s time for common sense when it comes to firearms, and the President has made a good start. There is no intent to confiscate all guns; rather, we are called to exercise, at long last, a measure of reason.
The driving license in my wallet testifies to my having passed a test that confirms my understanding of traffic laws, that my vision is suitable to the operation of a vehicle, and that I performed an acceptable demonstration of my ability to safely operate a vehicle. Additionally, my low insurance rate reflects a long history of safe driving. Why should the use of firearms be less monitored?
That’s not a facetious question, especially considering that cars and trucks, unlike firearms, are not designed to maim and kill. My driving privileges come with the inherent obligation to be mindful of the safety and well-being of others. That said, should I park an Abrams tank in my driveway my neighbors would have every reason to doubt that I plan to use it for commuting. I have the right to drive because I have met all the legal requirements for doing so, and those requirements have never suggested that the government intends to confiscate my car. We really can apply the same common sense to firearms. And we should.
-
