Time to stand up to the NRA
I would like to commend Jerry Garwick for his letter (July 7) exposing the true dangers of AR-15 weapons.
I have owned guns since I was a teenager, have shot many big-bore weapons and was once an NRA member.
Mr. Garwick is right! That weapon is only good for killing people. No self-respecting hunter would take one into the woods – you’d blow the meat apart. Your right to own one must be balanced against society’s right to be safe in streets, schools and homes.
No law can stop one truly bent on murder. But you have to begin somewhere. Guns and gun owners must be treated the same way as we treat autos and drivers. Guns are inanimate objects until a human gets one. That means licensing, training and investigation.
The argument that only law-abiding people suffer from gun laws is a crock. We all suffer from just about all laws in one way or another. But how would you like to live in a society with none?
Its time to stand up to the NRA and its ridiculous stand on AR-15 rifles. They are shilling for the gun lobby, not freedom lovers.
Stephen Pendleton, Visalia
This story was originally published July 11, 2016 at 2:09 PM with the headline "Time to stand up to the NRA."