Call for gun laws pointless

Amy Goodman’s Jan. 21 column advocated a number of new “common sense” laws – outlaw high-capacity magazines, pass an “assault weapons” ban, and close the gun show “loophole.” If these things are done, it will “make us all safer.”

The previous ban did nothing to lower crime. America now has the lowest violent crime rate in 30 years, despite right-to-carry (concealed weapons) laws in 34 states and the expiration of the ban. Alaska and New Hampshire, both of which allow concealed carry without a permit, have far lower per-capita crime rates than the “progressive” bastions of New York, Chicago or Los Angeles. She does note that in two of the cases, victims were unarmed.

In both the Virginia Tech atrocity and the Tucson murders, shooters legally bought firearms, magazines and ammunition; both passed the mandated background check. Neither perpetrator used any “loophole”; both bought the guns through retail stores. She demands a solution to a nonexistent problem.

Ms. Goodman should demand swift prosecution, the death penalty, and holding the person, not the tool, accountable.

Jeffrey Hall

Colville