Enact sensible gun control legislation

The recent watered-down bill on gun control failed in the Senate. The reason: Money prevailed over common sense.

Weapon manufacturers and gun dealers, legal and illegal, are in the business to make money. They use some of their money to help elect politicians who will support them. The Second Amendment, which the opponents of legislation cite, is outdated. When it was written, many communities did not have a police force or National Guard. Today, we have trained personnel to uphold the law.

Why do gun advocates feel the general public, which includes criminals and the mentally unstable, have more access than trained police officers and the military? I am all for people having the right to hunt. I commend the NRA for its work in conservation and preservation of the land and hunting, and teaching young people to hunt safely.

When they support (access to) weapons of mass destruction, not even a majority of their members agree. If people want to shoot assault weapons for pleasure, they should be kept at a registered firing range and properly stored at that facility afterward.

The NRA is no different from many other clubs. The most avid members take control and press their agenda. The rest go along to get along. So if you want to know why the bill failed, follow the money.

Legislation unfortunately would not have stopped many recent violent acts of carnage. If it reduces the number even by one, doesn't it make sense to enact sensible gun control?

James R. Kane

Cedar Rapids