Obama sensible on guns

The Jan. 7 town hall meeting featuring President Obama that was televised by CNN was very thought-provoking. Obama argued that the gun show loophole, which permits the sale of guns at shows to go unregistered, should be closed.

Surveys show that most Americans agree. Surveys also show that most Americans do not support the right of owners of semi-automatic and fully automatic weapons to possess one.

It isn’t for nothing that such weapons are called assault weapons. They are useless for hunting, target shooting and self-protection. They are very useful for assaulting people. Why anyone, other than the military or the police, should be allowed to possess one is a mystery to me.

Some people fear the government wants to seize their guns, but guns are useless for individuals wishing to protect themselves against the government. Do you realize what a single F-16 can do to your little compound in the North Idaho woods?

To oppose the right of individuals to own assault weapons is not to oppose the right to bear arms. In case anyone cares, I have been a gun owner since 1952.

Lee Freese

Pullman