Careless gun owners to blame for deaths

Daniel J. Bell, Las Vegas

Monday, Aug. 3, 2009 | 2:02 a.m.

Regarding David L. Sullivan’s Tuesday letter to the editor in the Las Vegas Sun, headlined “Danger of guns not being respected”:

I disagree with Mr. Sullivan’s comments regarding Sen. Harry Reid’s and the National Rifle Association’s support of private citizens’ ownership of weapons (firearms) for legal purposes. Both deserve credit for their positions and have supported heavy penalties for persons who use firearms in the commission of criminal acts.

Mr. Sullivan writes, “His support of a bill to allow gun owners with concealed weapon permits to carry a gun in other states is disheartening. What is his rationale? I miss the point of such legislation.” The point is to acknowledge that what is legal in one state is also legal in another state. This occurs with many issues — driver’s licenses, for example.

Sen. Reid is supporting citizens who have completed an extensive process including fingerprinting, photographing, firearms safety and range qualification to possess a concealed-weapons permit.

Mr. Sullivan mentions several recent firearm-related deaths involving young children, and the deaths are truly tragic and should not be tolerated. I agree with Mr. Sullivan that the list goes on.

However, in conclusion Mr. Sullivan writes, “Don’t these modern-day ‘militia’ men read the papers?” I missed the part where “militia” men were in any way responsible for any of the tragic deaths mentioned.

These tragic deaths are not accidents. They are allowed to occur by careless adults who leave firearms in open areas rather than under lock and key where they cannot be accessed by those other than responsible adults. To reduce these events, it is not necessary to blame Sen. Reid or the NRA. To reduce these senseless deaths, the adult firearm owners or responsible parties should be charged with child endangerment or manslaughter and sent to prison.