Editor:
Re: Restrictions not ‘nonsense’ Dec. 8 letters
The writers state that male gun owners are five times as likely as non-gun owners to die by suicide.
It’s been proven that if someone wants to kill themselves they will do it, whether with a firearm, knife or pills.
Mass shootings, they stated, were by people with no criminal record. They didn’t state if these were legal firearm owners, well I will state they weren’t.
As a legal firearm owner, I totally agree that restricting firearms will increase safety, but what the doctors failed to say and what politicians wont even mention is 99 per cent of all crimes, firearm homicides included, are committed by illegal firearms and non-licensed owners.
The answer is punish illegal firearm owners and smugglers. There are sentences on the books that severely punish anyone using a firearm in a crime, but rarely are they issued.
As a legal firearm owner, my firearms must be trigger-locked and locked in a safe or secure room. The ammunition must be locked in a location away from the firearms.
I am subject toa firearm officer check at any time.
The only place I can legally transport a handgun or any other restricted firearm is a licensed gun dealer or my shooting range, which is on record with the government.
If I’m stopped and I am not on a direct route, I am subject to prosecution.
Dont vilify me, a law abiding citizen, go after the gangs, go after successive governments who have done nothing constructive to reduce the number of illegal gun owners.
I’m tired of being made out to be the bad guy here.
Incidentally, the buy-back proposed by the government will cost upward of $700,000,000. Direct that money to policing and conviction and something might happen.
With respect, being a medical professional does not qualify the writers any more than me to comment.
Get rid of illegal firearms, punish gangbangers and leave me alone. Prior to my being issued a restricted firearms licence – restricted is basically handguns and other firearms that are deemed dangerous – my adult children were asked questions during a phone interview about my fitness to own a firearm.
I had to complete a written test and a practical hands-on test in front of a designated inspector.
I doubt the gang members do this.
Keith Sutton, Surrey