Letters to the editor: Don't blame guns shows and why we should be thankful
Guns show legislation ill-informed
On Oct. 26, Senator Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara) and Assemblymember Steve Bennet (D-Santa Barbara) issued a joint statement regarding their plans for future legislation to ban gun shows at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, stating: “After hearing from many constituents and local governments, we are announcing legislation for the upcoming legislative year to enhance public safety by banning gun shows at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.”
Both claim, without evidence, that doing so would “enhance public safety.” I say without evidence because I’m unaware of any gun crimes directly tied to the legal purchase of a gun from our local gun show. As most of us already know, all gun show purchases must go through a federal background check and are subject to the state-mandated 10-day waiting period, after which they can be picked up at a local FFL. So, no one can purchase a gun at the gun show and leave with it the same day. There are no loopholes in California.
In order to bolster their claim, they cite a statistic from a 2013 article published by the biased Center For American Progress, stating: “Gun shows rank second to corrupt dealers as a source for illegally trafficked firearms.” The problem with citing this article and statistical claim is that it has no bearing on gun shows in California. All commercial and private party gun sales must still be transferred through an FFL in California, so their supporting article and statistic are ill-informed at best and intellectually dishonest at worst.
One has to wonder why they would choose to pass such legislation through the Assembly and Senate rather than place it on the ballot as an initiative in order to let their constituents decide. Doesn’t seem very “democratic,” does it?
Alan Garner, Camarillo
There are reasons to be thankful
We are all a bit shellshocked after these dark years, but we have many reasons to be thankful.
We now have a wise and good-hearted president and his dedicated team who are working very hard to help get us all through these dark times of COVID and climate change. It is as if we are finally in a lifeboat after being on the sinking Titanic of the orange bully, and a few whiny, MAGA cult wackos are having tantrums and drilling holes in the bottom of the lifeboat.
But I am hopeful and thankful that my family will finally be together again for Thanksgiving, with my four young grandchildren vaccinated and ready for Nana hugs. We can do this if we remember to appreciate those who are fighting to make all of our lives better and ignore the whiny party of “no.”
Thankfully, the Build Back Better Bill has just passed the House and will provide help and hope for families free preschool for children, care for seniors and the disabled, will help rescue our earth from climate change, and strengthen our country. Now the bill will go to the Senate. We can do this.
Joy Hamlat, Oxnard
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Don't blame guns shows and why we should be thankful
