Gun Deaths and Justice System
In your Feb. 3 editorial, “Guns Now Kill More Than Autos,” you called for more laws to combat the problem of gun violence.
From my experience as a police officer (since 1987), I can tell you that you are naive as to how to solve the problem of gun violence. The penal code contains numerous laws that cover weapon-related crimes. Police officers make numerous arrests for these violations. The problems begin from that point forward. The courts are financially strapped, so overworked district attorneys are forced to plea-bargain cases. Charges are dropped or reduced and sentences are served concurrently. Those who are sent to jail or prison are released early due to a budget-poor correctional system. The criminals are returned to the street to continue their ways and to teach the next generation their trade. There is virtually no deterrent to criminals when they know they will simply be released having served little to no time.
We don’t need new laws. We need to find a means to fund all aspects of the criminal justice system so that the laws we already have can be enforced to the fullest extent.
WILLIAM KARL VALENTINE
Newport Beach
The Times compares the automobile to the gun in its editorial. As a safe and knowledgeable gun owner, I would welcome my guns being treated the same way as my car. There is no waiting period to purchase a car. Anyone may walk into a dealership and drive away 30 minutes later.
You may drive your car on your own property without obtaining any permits or licenses, and you may store it in any manner you wish. An easy-to-obtain license is required to drive a car on a public road. Pass a simple test of regulations, demonstrate that you know how to drive, and you may use any car anywhere you wish.
As The Times suggested, the automobile model is most certainly the logical choice to follow when forming a policy on firearms.
By this standard, anyone may buy a gun and, upon passing a legal and marksmanship test, carry and use that gun anywhere in the state. By current law, you must wait two weeks, pass a background check and have your name put on file when you buy a gun. A license to carry that gun does not require any type of test; it requires an act of God.
BRIAN COX
Irvine
You ran an editorial asking for police to enforce more gun control laws, stating that guns now kill more than autos, and that government controls are the main reason for reduced auto deaths. You missed one clear difference. Auto deaths are accidents and gun deaths are intentional! That is why government controls (gun control laws) have had no impact on gun violence.
Rhode Island has recently implemented new laws mandating that anyone caught with a firearm in the commission of a crime receives a minimum of 10 years in prison, even if the gun wasn’t used. Use of the gun gets a minimum of 25 years, and killing someone with a gun in the act of committing a crime results in an automatic life without parole, or the death sentence in certain circumstances. These laws are showing great results in reducing gun violence. Why not try them here or nationwide?
JOHN P. PEARSON
Toluca Lake
The new Congress must be made to understand that it is time to stop allowing the National Rifle Assn. to call the shots on assault and other forms of weaponry.
GEORGE R. TILTON
Santa Barbara