Here's why more gun laws are not needed

Fact: The anti-gun legislators believe that the only way to stop crimes involving guns is to create more gun laws but fail to accept that there are already many, many gun laws that are not or cannot be enforced. If they were being enforced, there would be no need for more laws.

No matter how many laws legislators pass, the criminals will still find access to guns and bullets.

Nine of the 10 anti-gun bills passed in the state Assembly on April 28 were introduced by Assembly people from New York City.

It is now and has been illegal for anyone other than law enforcement people to carry weapons within the city without special permission from city officials. Again, enforce the laws already in place.

In New York City there are 118 police officers per square mile and one police officer per 221 people, and they are unable to keep their citizens safe. In Lewis County there is one police officer per 36 square miles and one officer per 770 people. How can they assure our safety?

Let's quickly look at a few of the bills passed in the Assembly. Bill No. A03211A bans the sale, use or possession of 50 caliber or larger weapons. Technically, all shotguns are larger than 50 caliber.

Bill No. A06157 bans the possession, sale and manufacture of assault weapons. Buried in the bill is wording that gives the superintendent of state police the authority to designate any semiauto shotgun, semiauto centerfire rifle or rimfire rifle to the list of assault weapons.

Bill No. 801A will require pistol permit renewal every five years, training and a test before a permit is issued. Training, testing or valid hunting license and fingerprints are already required, and the permit may be revoked at any time. This bill appears to be only about gaining revenue.

In Letters from the people, Mark MacWilliams said, "We need gun laws to preserve our freedom from nuts threatening to destroy our democracy." I can't agree more. We need to vote these people out of Albany. There is much more to say, but space is limited.

Allen Merrill

Croghan