Letter: Enforce existing gun laws

A recent letter entitled “Gun fanatics endanger everyone” has some good points, but it also misses the point in some cases.

Yes, the United States has a high, if not the highest, record of mass shootings and gun violence in the entire world. Three of this country’s major cities (Chicago, New York, and Washington) rank at the top of the list and they all three have some of the strictest gun laws in existence.

The earlier writer needs to know that there are restrictions even for the holders of concealed weapon permits. We cannot carry guns into schools and churches, as that writer implied.

It really won’t matter if more legislation is created for the purpose of “gun control.” If the current laws are not being enforced to the fullest, then what makes anyone think new legislation would make any difference? The only people who will abide by such legislation are those gun owners who respect the law and who have acquired the right to carry concealed weapons through a tough test (S.C. requires a written test and a shooting test).

Hear this and hear it well: people with evil intentions will always find a way to acquire guns, no matter what the laws are, no matter what legislation is put into place. If we could properly enforce the laws that exist now, it would be a different equation.

This story was originally published July 6, 2016 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Letter: Enforce existing gun laws."