Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Letter: Watch list is not reason to deny right to own gun

The current efforts to deny the right to purchase guns to anyone on a terrorist watch list is another step under the Bush administration toward the evolution of a police state.

Those persons are already being denied their rights under the Sixth Amendment, which includes the right "to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him."

On the basis of accusations, those on a terrorist watch list could now be denied a right enjoyed by other citizens, even though there is insufficient evidence to indict, try, or convict them of anything.

As much as I hate to agree with the National Rifle Association about anything, there is no logical reason to deny persons on a watch list their rights.

WALLACE J. HENKELMAN

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