As a Vietnam vet, hunter and owner of several guns, I learned to be responsible with guns. Wayne LaPierre of the NRA has said many times, "Guns do not kill people. People kill people."
To screen people who want a gun through a background check is the responsible thing to do to minimize the number of "people killing people." Many argue that criminals will only break the law. Based on this argument, should we do away with all laws so people will not break them? Of course not!
Background checks do not affect law-abiding, responsible citizens from buying and owning guns. They only screen for and make it more difficult to buy a gun if you are not an honest, responsible individual.
Since 1980, over 900,000 people have been killed in the U.S. by guns. What about the rights of these people? I would gladly submit to a background check and register all of my guns because it is the right thing to do to help preserve the rights of all Americans.
— Steven Lyons
Anchorage