Dear Editor:

This is a letter (modified from the original) that I sent to Liz Cheney regarding the continued gun carnage in America, particularly at the hands of imbalanced young males with easy access to firearms. My focus is on the sometimes irresponsible handling and storage of guns kept for “self defense” by some as well as the ready availability of military type rifles. I have no concern about hunting rifles, guns for sport shooting and properly stored guns for protection. I fully support the Second Amendment. I do not want gun confiscation.

Dear Rep. Cheney:

This is from the Washington Post (July 5).

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — The suspect in the Highland Park shooting had two previous contacts with law enforcement in the city, including one in which he was reported to have threatened to “kill everyone,” authorities said in a news conference Tuesday.

An individual reported to Highland Park police in 2019 that Robert E. Crimo III had attempted suicide, according to Christopher Covelli, a spokesman for the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force.

The second incident was in September 2019, when Crimo had threatened to “kill everyone,” according to a family member who reported it to Highland Park police, Covelli said.

Police removed 16 knives, a dagger and a sword from Crimo’s residence, Covelli said. At the time, there was no probable cause to arrest him and no complaints were signed by any victims, he said.

The Lake County coroner confirmed a seventh death in the Fourth of July parade shooting in Highland Park after the gunman fired more than 70 rounds with a high-powered rifle at a crowd of bystanders.

REP. CHENEY: As predicted, the mentally imbalanced nature of this white young male has now come to light after he LEGALLY purchased a “high powered” rifle, the type of which has not been revealed.

I and many others appreciate your courageous work on the Jan. 6 Select Committee. I read about your very impressive performance in the recent primary debate. You have been a consistent Second Amendment advocate. Nevertheless, how is it that the Second Amendment “right to self defense” justifies this crime?  Second Amendment rights are NOT UNLIMITED. That is settled law and there are multiple cases in the historical record to support this statement.

The fundamental problem in our nation is that there are just too many guns too easily available, allowing people like this shooter to obtain them. Of note, Wyoming is the state with the most guns per capita. Sadly, we also have one of the highest suicide rates. In addition, the U.S. is the most heavily armed country on the planet outside of war zones. We are the only nation with this level of mass shootings.

The existing gun laws are insufficient. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that you and others courageously voted for is a good beginning but it is not nearly enough. Universal background checks, restrictions on AR-15s and similar guns, national registration, licensure, etc. are desperately needed.

Responsible gun owners should be willing to embrace these steps to improve public safety. We would need someone like you to promote and explain it to the public while reassuring gun owners and the lobbyists that the Second Amendment itself protects their right to obtain weapons and that blanket confiscation cannot and will not occur.

I fully support the Second Amendment, but I know from studying its history that guns in the public sphere have been and should continue to be regulated for public safety, especially as conditions change from those of 1791.

Please, Liz. People are dying from gun violence in public places with no end in sight.

Jim McEvoy

Powell