Restrictions won’t help
Thomas Friedman’s Feb. 26 commentary blames the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Republicans in Congress, for failing to control guns.
The NRA is an association of private citizens such as myself — individuals of limited financial means — who corporately defend the rights of all citizens, as enumerated in the United States Constitution and the individual states’ constitutions.
Republicans serving in Congress and state legislatures do not defend our liberty because they receive money from the NRA.
They receive support from the NRA because they defend liberty.
Murder is illegal.
All guns are illegal in schools, according to federal law.
Before purchasing any gun, all purchasers must pass a National Instant Check System (NICS) background check.
Additional restrictions on guns would do nothing to make these laws more effective or increase public compliance or safety.
Additional restrictions on guns would do nothing to assure that authorities never again ignore advance warnings about potential shooters.
Additional restrictions on guns would not force on-site police officers to engage active shooters promptly.
Additional restrictions on guns would not assure that all government entities consistently and meticulously file with NICS all information necessary for that system to effectively block violent people from obtaining weapons.
Friedman and company are so focused on controlling other people’s guns, that they are blind to changes in laws that might actually help reduce violence, whether perpetrated with a gun, a knife, or a vehicle.
Martha McKeeth Ireland,
Sequim
Editor’s note: Ireland was a Clallam County commissioner from 1996 to 1999 and wrote a column for the PDN for 12 years.