William Rivers Pitt | An Open Letter to Lovers of the Gun

[CreekDog]

257. I think the standards required to be a "legal" gun owner are too lax

I'm not against gun ownership...though I'm against the idea that widespread ownership of guns makes an individual or the community safer, but that's a philosophical and statistical observation, not a request that there be a law to stop gun ownership.

That said, the retired cop in the theater shooting was a legal gun owner.

Adam Lanza's mother was a legal gun owner.

Many people who have committed horrific crimes, many people who have committed suicide with guns have been legal gun owners.

There should simply be stronger restrictions and requirements to become a gun owner, to remain a gun owner and to add to one's ownership of firearms --as well as the regulation of ammunition.

There probably should be restrictions requiring guns be locked, especially if in a household where the non-owner has no right to own a gun themselves.

These are designed solely for killing, they should have regulations that are strong enough to restrict, without banning, these items that are very powerful and dangerous, though in their places, have a use and/or benefit.

One last thing, lead ammunition discharge into the environment needs to be dealt with, because it is a significant source of pollution. California has passed laws to reduce and ultimately ban the use of lead ammunition and this should be done throughout the country.