Controlling Guns

October 9th, 2017

Dear President Trump,

I am wrestling with the way this country seems to be divided and confused over guns and gun control. Like most issues it seems to be rural vs city dwellers. We really live in different "worlds" with different concerns.

At the ranch riding without a gun is inviting a wolf encounter to turn deadly for the rider. Hunters use different guns for different types of hunting and most use the meat to feed their families.

I would think that most people are concerned about gun violence and not particularly gun use. For example, target practicing at a range may be acceptable to more people than murder. 

Let's take a look at some numbers from 2016. It seems that cities have a big problem with gun violence.

Chicago had 480 homicides.
Baltimore had 344 homicides
Detroit listed 333 homicides
Washington DC had 119 homicides

So 1276 people were murdered in cities with tough gun control laws. Something is not working and it is not the same everywhere.

It seems to me that any time a homicidal murderer uses a gun, we worry more about the weapon than what made this person a homicidal murderer.

I, in no way, support murder of any kind.

So instead of just making sweeping statements about gun control, can we talk about ways to end gun violence? There is room in that conversation to speak about gun laws and so much more. We can't solve just part of the problem. Criminals will always be able to get guns, no matter what the laws. What can we do to stop the violence?

Sincerely,

Trenna