The Herald’s editorial, “Common sense and firearms” uses the words “common sense” and “clearly in the public interest” to make any argument against I-594 look irrational, or anyone who doesn’t agree with them (the Herald) of not having common sense — these ways of talking are to make an opposition opinion look minimal without actually saying it. The editorial tries to tie I-591 with Tim Eyman by mentioning polling numbers and relating them to some poll numbers of Mr. Eyman’s failed initiatives. I-591 is not a Tim Eyman initiative and the comment was un-needed, especially since it is only April and the vote for initiatives won’t happen till November. The editorial then goes after the other hot-topic of keeping weapons out of the hands of the mentally ill, but fails to give one fact or one bit of data.
Fortunately for the Everett Herald and the readers, I have facts and figures straight from the FBI. The facts are that only 0.7 percent of criminals bought a gun at a gun show, One percent were purchased at flea markets, 3.8 percent from a pawn shop and 8.3 percent from a retail outlet. The majority of guns used in criminal acts are bought from an illegal source or obtained from a friend or family member, that is close to 40 percent for each.
When it comes to states with the most stringent gun laws, they had the most murders by guns. California lead the country in 2012 with 1,304 and before you say California is the most populated state with 37 million people, then compare with Texas with its 25 million residents, but only had 745 murders with guns used. Utah, which has the least gun control, had only 29 murders with firearms and this is a rate of 0.97 per 100,000 people. Washington D.C., which requires all guns be registered, banned new handguns and required guns at home to be stored and locked up or dissembled. The murder rate in D.C. was 12 per 100,000. In 2008, the Washington D.C. gun ban was overturned and since their gun homicides have dropped from 186 in 2008 to 88 in 2012.
Like the Herald editorial staff, I too am wagering that a voter tyranny of common sense blunts the money of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the emotional hysteria preached by the Everett Herald.
Todd Welch
Lake Stevens
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