fense and hunting. These semiautomatic rifles use technology introduced to the marketplace in the late 1800s. They have been commercially available since the early 1960s. They fire only one round with each pull of the trigger.
These firearms, and the law-abiding citizens who own them, are not criminals. According to FBI crime data, more murders are committed each year using knives, clubs and fists than from all rifles combined.
The editorial board ignores countless examples throughout the summer of law-abiding Americans who used their firearms to protect their businesses, homes and loved ones when violent looters and rioters looted and burned communities.
SEND LETTERS TO: letters@suntimes.com. Please include your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes. Letters should be 350 words or less.
The firearm industry isn’t waiting. We are providing Real Solutions® and committing resources to gun safety and education programs that promote safe and responsible firearm storage in the home and in retail business operation and security.
These initiatives include partnering with more than 15,000 local law enforcement agencies to provide 40 million firearm safety kits, including firearm locking devices, for safe gun storage through Project ChildSafe.
Our industry is also fixing the FBI’s background check system by successfully changing the law in 16 states and Congress to increase reporting of disqualifying mental health records, resulting in a 266% increase.
Congress once banned these firearms, but irrefutable evidence proves this did not reduce crime. Criminals will not follow laws, and only law-abiding Americans will suffer. Instead of pushing flawed gun control schemes like banning modern sporting rifles, we should continue providing resources to programs with a proven record of making safer communities.
Lawrence G. Keane,
Senior vice president and general counsel
National Shooting Sports Foundation
Tribune stung by scorpion
The Chicago Tribune, a respected conservative newspaper that has promoted capitalism for more than a century, now will be owned entirely by a ruthless profit-driven hedge fund. Should we be surprised when a scorpion stings its helper?
George Ochsenfeld, Monee
*story by The Chicago Sun Times
