Background Checks

Regarding your editorial on President Obama's State of the Union plea for Congress to act on gun control, Marylander's deserve much more than a vote, they deserve true representation ("We deserve a vote," Feb. 17). The editorial highlighted the president's call for the voices of the victims of gun violence be heard, and it denounced the NRA, Republicans and certain Democrats for opposing legislation that would ban military-style assault rifles and large-capacity ammunition magazines.

I seldom feel compelled to write a letter to the editor, but Dan Rodricks column on gun control was spot on ("A move toward reason on gun control?" Feb. 14). I am a registered nurse practitioner, and for the past 10 years or so, in New Hampshire and Maryland, I have been required to have digital fingerprinting and national background checks done before I could renew my nursing license. I am also required to maintain current medical knowledge through continuing education - at my own expense, generally.

Much of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address this week was a fairly ho-hum affair, with the usual laundry list of programs and goals (most so familiar that it could have been a recycled campaign speech from 2012, or maybe 2008) and the customary reaction of cheering supporters and stone-faced critics. Until he turned to the subject of gun control. What had seemed routine, even pro forma, suddenly turned electric. Invoking speech attendees including the parents of Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed in Chicago just days after the 15-year-old performed in the presidential inauguration; former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who suffered a gunshot to the head two years ago; and relatives of the Newtown, Conn.

Perhaps some facts would help the sycophantic Mr. Britt understand how truly vacuous and meaningless our president's recent theatrical performance on gun control, complete with a wallpaper of children behind him, was ("State lawmakers should follow President Obama's lead on gun safety," Letters, Jan. 24). I'm sure Mr. Britt was equally impressed by our governor's performance in which he claimed that the Newtown tragedy demonstrated the need for Obamacare is needed! The political grandstanding of our politicians is shameful!

Is there no end of opportunities to challenge those who would restrict, curtail, register and eventually confiscate the guns of law-abiding citizens? ("In gun control, no easy fix for Baltimore's violence," Jan. 27.) I would ask gun-control advocates whether they believe in and support the law. I'm certain the great majority of them would say yes. Then I would ask: Did you know that the so-called government gun buy-backs" are illegal - since they are illegal transmission of weapons, with one of the defendants being the government.

I'm a sportsman and a hunter. Locked securely in my gun safe are hunting firearms and accessories, but not those currently mentioned in the debate over restricting military "assault" weapons, large capacity magazines and certain handguns ("Chief calls for stricter gun laws," Jan. 31) I sympathize with those who have lawfully obtained firearms and use them responsibly. My particular ox is not being gored - not yet. Given the horrific loss-of-life events that have recently transpired, I understand and sympathize with those who say something must be done.

Baltimore County Police Chief James W. Johnson added a much-needed voice of reason to the national debate over gun control last week when he appeared before Congress to testify in favor of universal background checks for gun purchases and a ban on assault rifles and large capacity ammunition magazines. It was only common sense, he told lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee, to extend the reporting requirements for federally licensed firearms dealers to the private individuals who account for 40 percent of gun sales in this country.

Better background checks and mental health programs critical for gun control There is no argument that America has a gun problem. No matter how many studies, statistics or mass killings, there will always be individuals who find comfort and even patriotism in owning guns. Most have a primitive, juvenile, single-minded interpretation of the Second Amendment which, through many years of effort, a pro-gun lobby has managed to amend by simply never mentioning the preamble.   We have allowed this interpretation to flourish and now find ourselves with millions of humans with millions of guns, slowly killing ourselves without any constitutional constraint.

Maryland Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen will join with gun control campaigners and religious leaders in a rally against gun violence on the National Mall Saturday. The advocates plan to march in silence at 11 a.m. from the Capitol to the Washington Monument where Van Hollen and others will speak. "I have long been a supporter of common sense measures to prevent gun violence," Van Hollen said in a statement. "Banning assault-style weapons, restricting high-capacity magazines, and implementing a system for universal background checks are just a few of the ways we can help make our communities safer.

It's hard to believe that Gov. Martin O'Malley and the Sunpaper's editorial writers ("O'Malley takes a stand," Jan. 13) are so naive that they really think that another law to banish this or that inanimate object ("assault" rifle) or licensing handgun purchasers/owners is going to keep guns out of the hands of those with intent to use them criminally. Every last one of us knows that the majority of guns used by criminals are purchased out of the trunk of a car, the back room of a bar or in an apartment in a public housing project.