Orin Seybert’s brief and quite reasonable letter (ADN, June 3) decrying the ease of obtaining assault rifles was, rather caustically, declared “full of misinformation” by Charles Brobst (ADN, June 5). However, only two cases of “misinformation” were found by Brobst: 1) semi-automatic rifles were referred to as automatic rifles, i.e., machine guns; and 2) Seybert, presumably regarding the Uvalde shooting, implied that the weapon used was obtained without a background check. Brobst conveniently overlooked the purpose of Seybert’s letter, which was asking why the sale of high-powered, semi-automatic rifles with high-capacity magazines is permitted. It is interesting that a man who refers to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as the Bureau of Tobacco and Alcohol faulted another man for referring to semi-automatic rifles as automatic rifles.
After ungraciously correcting Seybert’s two shortcomings, Brobst droned on and on about the meaning of “AR” in the AR-15 rifle, the definition of weapons of war, the requirements of machine gun ownership, the rigors of background checks, etc., about everything but the elephant in the room. He made the incredulous statement that when he sells a firearm, “… doctors, psychologist, the legal system, the military and others” are involved in the background check of the purchaser. Further in the letter, he admonished people “to get their facts straight” before “spouting half-truths.” Either the background check of the Uvalde shooter was inadequately performed, or Brobst was not following his own advice.
— Dale C. Slaughter
Anchorage
Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Letters under 200 words have the best chance of being published. Writers should disclose any personal or professional connections with the subjects of their letters. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and length.