Trying to Make Sense of Gun Control Laws

In “Bill Proposes ‘Fingerprinting’ of Firearms” (Dec. 11), we read state Sen. Jack Scott’s (D-Altadena) assertion that the National Rifle Assn. has “opposed almost every sensible gun safety bill.” How does he define a sensible gun safety bill? Violent crime is up in California. Crimes involving illegal use of firearms result in innocent civilians being hurt and killed every day in California. California’s gun control laws are among the most restrictive of any state. Does he think the kinds of gun safety bills that have been enacted here are sensible? They don’t work!

John W. Hazlet Jr.

Pasadena

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With all the sound and fury surrounding the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms, everyone seems to have overlooked the most logical solution.

Responsible citizens who are able to pass a background check and demonstrate proficiency with firearms on a firing range should be issued a license to carry a concealed weapon. Anyone caught bearing a concealed weapon without such a license should be subject to draconian penalties. If all the punks wandering around with .38s in their hands and malice in their hearts knew that if they were apprehended they would spend the rest of their lives behind bars, they might think twice about shooting someone at random. And if they suspected that their intended victim might have a .38 of his or her own, they might even think three times about it.

If I were to shoot someone who was trying to rob me, steal my car or just shoot me for the hell of it, I would feel very bad about it. But I wouldn’t feel nearly as dead as I would be had I been unarmed.

Allen E. Kahn

Playa del Rey

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Registering guns by keeping a record of their bullet markings is like registering cars by keeping a record of their tire tracks.

Sherwin Cogan

San Clemente