I heartily support the opinion expressed June 14 in the column by Natalia Muñoz regarding the lack of action by legislators regarding any sort of gun control.
As she stated, nothing was done after the Sandy Hook shooting and I will be amazed if anything constructive happens after this more recent bloodbath in Orlando. It appears to me that whenever there is some sort of legislative discussion it focuses on registering gun buyers or related “controls.”
However there is virtually no mention of eliminating the sale of assault weapons except for use by the military or police departments. What place do such weapons have in civilian hands? Is it to gun down the mob attacking a private home or to hunt a herd of buffalo?
It is obviously extremely difficult to eliminate hatred or politically motivated terrorist violence. However, why should we make available tools for mass attacks?
Enough damage could result from knives or handguns. That is bad enough. Do we really need to allow civilians access to gun clips that hold more than five or six rounds? While we are busy changing laws, how about a tax on bullets? Apply the proceeds to education or healthcare.
Sadly we are surrounded, as Muñoz stated, by legislators who seem to tremble and avoid the “wrath” of the NRA even though a majority of ordinary citizens welcome some significant gun control legislation. A January CBS poll showed 85 percent of those surveyed approved of background checks and 53 percent supported a ban on assault weapons.
Paul Redstone
Northampton