Gun Control

In his letter opposing reasonable gun control, Doug McNeil asserts that the government cannot require a license or fingerprints as a condition of gun ownership because gun ownership is a constitutional right ("Gun licensing won't reduce crime," March 3). But both requirements are routinely imposed on the exercise of other constitutional rights. The Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that marriage is a fundamental right. Yet, as everyone who has ever been married in this country knows, every state requires that couples obtain a marriage license before they can marry.

Dan Rodricks ' column ("Gun control, yes, and therapy, not jail," March 3) on the 35-year prison sentence given the 15-year-old Perry Hall High School student was right on. So was the letter from Ann Phillips ("Perry Hall shooter's sentence is a travesty," March 1). When you are an adolescent, you can not drink or vote. You can't drink at 18 years of age because you are not considered mature enough to handle it. You can't drive until you are 16 years old. But you can enlist in the U.S. Army when you are 18 years old and "adult.

From Washington to Annapolis to Hartford, Conn., wherever new gun restrictions are being debated, it's important to remember Sandy Hook. That's not a plea to the emotions. That's a plea to human decency and common sense - a reminder of the personal pledges we made to do something about the dangerously easy availability of assault weapons in a society that claims to be civilized. On that Friday in December, the nation howled, "Enough," and after years of doing nothing, elected officials are trying to do something to turn back the violence that rages due to the mixture of guns, criminality and madness.

The state of California treats all businesses as necessary evils and treat those of us in the gun business as simply evil. It makes it very clear that it doesn't want us there. Beretta is now considering moving 400 jobs out of Maryland for the same reason ("Gun control draws more than 2,000 to Annapolis," March 2). Recall that the company already moved a warehouse to Virginia in 1990 when Maryland tightened gun laws. Why would the General Assembly knowingly force out legitimate businesses and jobs from Maryland?

Gov. Martin O'Malley recently testified that most citizens want gun control and like his bill restricting gun ownership ("Gun control draws more than 2,000 to Annapolis, March 2). Well, 1,307 citizens lined up to give testimony against his gun-grabbing bill, and only 36 citizens testified for it. Just goes to show you Governor O'Malley is full of himself just like his buddy President Barack Obama. J. Michael Collins, Reisterstown Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

Reporters Erin Cox and Michael Dresser should be ashamed regarding the manner in which they recorded the recent hearing on gun legislation in Annapolis ("Gun control draws more than 2,000 to Annapolis," March 2). The article does not represent the truth. Hundreds came out to support the governor's bill while over 1,000 came out against it. The "1,300" number they cite was the number of Marylanders who signed up to testify against the bill. They failed to mention another number in the article - 32 - which is how many people signed up to testify for the governor's bill.

With the passage of the new bill, the criminal element in Maryland will now feel much safer, knowing that fewer law-abiding people will have legally owned guns.  Chicago is just one example of tough gun controls laws and how well they work.  Well done, Governor, you will be able to proudly claim credit for  the pending gun crime increase that is coming. Daryl Leger Annapolis

As one who came to America from a socialist country at the age of 18, I find it terrifying that elected officials would challenge the legitimacy of rights granted by our Constitution. When I moved here those many years ago, I was promised my freedom by a Bill of Rights unlike any document ever written previously. It was a liberating experience. Yet today, I once again feel threatened and intimidated by my government. I implore our elected officials to put emotion aside and ponder the consequences of restricting people's right to own guns.

Contrast the following two quotations regarding gun control. Which is emotional feel-good dribble and which is logical? Gov. Martin O'Malley: "All of these reforms just might save the lives of little boys and little girls, of moms and dads, of sisters and brothers. ... We must do more. " The National Rifle Association's Sharon Alford: "A criminal does not ask permission before attacking your family. " Duh! Lee Rudolph, Bel Air Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

Hundreds of pro-gun activists again swarmed Annapolis on Tuesday in hopes of turning the tide against gun control. Polls show that banning assault weapons and requiring a license to buy a handgun have broad support among Marylanders, but gun rights supporters such as Jerry Carey have three times flocked to the state capital to urge defeat of those proposals and others. "My wife tells me I should quit this and go back to work," said Carey, a self-employed 68-year-old from Frederick who attended the latest gun rights rally Tuesday.