I read the three letters on gun control on Sunday in The Durango Herald. One letter made a very good point, which encouraged me to think about this issue in more detail.
Even though my opinion about gun control is very different from the letter writer’s, his point is that these guns do not walk by themselves into theaters, Walmart, schools or anywhere else that a mass shooting takes place. They are brought in by a disturbed person. In order to reduce the hideous crime of taking lives, which causes indescribable grief and loss and – to my thinking – is the ultimate violation of someone’s human rights, we either have to limit access to guns or accurately identify those who are not mentally or emotionally stable enough to own and operate one of these weapons.
I see the letter writer’s point as a profound argument for more extensive background checks and a three-day cooling off period. This will preclude having to deal with the availability of guns and focus upon the suitability of those who own them. Identify the “disturbed, attention-seeking person” without intruding upon the ability of stable people to own firearms.
It is my hope that the letter writer can work with me and others to develop such background checks and a cooling-off period.
Robert L. Bogner
Durango
