Proposal to Register Handguns

Re “In Blow to Davis, Panel OKs Registering Handguns,” Jan 12: Let me get this straight. We need to have all legally purchased handguns registered and licensed so the police can track stolen handguns used in crimes. What kind of knee-jerk move is this? And who is going to foot the bill for the intricate and probably very inaccurate accounting for these weapons? The taxpayer.

Once again, the law-abiding citizen is getting dinged because no one wants to tackle the bigger, more threatening problem of the illegal weapon market. I suggest that more effort needs to be made in eliminating the illegal gun traffic. It’s not the law-abiding citizen who is the problem. Hello? Does anybody get it?

PEG ACKERMAN

Pasadena

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Let’s get to the heart of this debate. This isn’t about registering guns; it’s about confiscating guns. Past experiences in the city of New York and here in California have caused many gun owners to suspect that this is the true objective of Assemblyman Kevin Shelley’s (D-San Francisco) bill.

Convicted felons would not be required to register their guns under this law. In 1968 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Haynes vs. U.S. that a felon need not comply with gun registration laws since the act of registering would violate 5th Amendment protections against self-incrimination. Shelley claims that this is about public safety, but that clearly cannot be the case. This is about confiscating guns.

STEVE BELL

Woodland Hills

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Charles R. Edelsohn (letter, Jan. 12) is correct when he says, “Knives don’t kill. People do.” However, a knife wielder may be brought to the ground by a group of people, whereas a gun wielder might shoot the group. Also, knives are made for many purposes, while guns are made to kill.

JACK SEIDMAN

Long Beach