Reasonable controls on weapons needed

To the editor:

In response to the letter to the editor from Roger Witcher that appeared in Tuesday's Review-Journal, I would like to point out a few misconceptions that he and many others have about gun control.

First, I don't think anyone is advocating confiscating every gun in America. He is correct that it would be a needless and impossible task. I do think, however, that we need to make every effort to reduce the types of weapons that are capable of causing so much death in such a short amount of time. No one hunts with an assault rifle. Law-abiding citizens can and should have the right to acquire guns used for hunting and home defense.

We do need to increase our efforts to control who can purchase a gun. Does anyone really want to allow felons, terrorists or the mentally ill to buy guns at gun shows without a background check? It is a dangerous loophole that needs to be closed.

Lastly, Mr. Witcher feels that having the "good guys" armed with more guns will somehow deter the "deranged individuals" from going on killing sprees because of their fear of being shot. In most cases, the mentally ill cannot even make the connection between their actions and possible consequences. In most officer-involved shootings, the victim has some form of mental illness or is a substance abuser, or a combination of the two. They are unable to follow simple commands. If they could, they would lay down their weapons when told to do so and we would no longer have so many police shootings.

As long as high-capacity guns and assault rifles are allowed into the hands of "deranged individuals," it won't matter how many guns the "good guys" have. There will still be mass killings.

David Skelton

Las Vegas

Get tough, Obama

To the editor:

What has happened to the promise made by President Obama that Social Security cuts will not be part of any negotiations to satisfy the demands of the GOP? What happened to the promise that millions of voters supported, to raise taxes on those making more than $250,000 per year?

It appears those promises were made to be broken by this president to appease the whining of the GOP.

This story proves the GOP has plenty of backbone to bully the weak-sister Democrats into concessions, even it means bankrupting the country. It also appears the president has given up his number one negotiating position by softening the stance of his original promises.

I personally believe the American people voted him the bully pulpit, and they do not want to give it up to a minority of congressional ideologists.

Where have we heard this song before? It sure isn't "God Bless America."

Don Ellis

Henderson

End withholding

To the editor:

Here's the easiest solution to get American taxpayers to pay attention and get involved:

Have every American actually pay their own federal tax withholding every two weeks directly to the IRS, rather than have their employers take it out automatically from their paychecks. Have Americans actually write out a check or get a money order. I imagine people would take a much greater interest in America's finances if they had to actually pay for their citizenship every two weeks. People also would take a greater interest in the government's wasteful spending.

The problem most Americans have is that paying taxes is a passive activity, and taxes are too far removed from our everyday experiences. Making the payment of taxes an active event, making people actually write out a check to the IRS every two weeks, would force Americans to become involved, and hopefully they would demand a better explanation as to why their government needs more money.

Kym Cushing

Henderson