Gun law priorities need to include restrictions and other letters to the editors

Gun law priorities need to include restrictions

Like most rights, the Second Amendment is not unlimited. It has been modified by judicial interpretation and amended by legislation. The Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibits certain people from possessing a firearm.

Possession of a firearm by any prohibited person is a felony; sale of a firearm to any person known or reasonably suspected to be a prohibited person is a felony. To ensure that firearms are not sold to prohibited people, licensed dealers are required to perform background checks and maintain records of people to whom firearms are sold. No such requirements apply to the sale of firearms by people who are not licensed dealers. Instead, a "don't ask, don't tell" policy is the prevailing protocol.

Proposed gun control legislation, if enacted, would close that loophole. Gun rights activists have adamantly opposed such legislation under the auspices of Second Amendment rights. Judicial decisions, however, have confirmed the constitutionality of sale to prohibited people and this legislation will not restrict the rights of legitimate buyers. Sen. Mark Green stated, "The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." Perhaps we should consider stopping a bad guy from getting a gun!

T. WILLIAM ALEXANDER


Police system slow and frustrating

On Feb. 15, a burglar stole an air conditioning unit from the back of my commercial building at 739 Ashland Terrace in Chattanooga.

A police officer caught the burglar and put him in jail. Since then, I have made many calls to the police station. First, I was told there is no report registered. I wanted to know the officer who had done an excellent job to catch the burglar and find out about the AC unit so I can get it back. Unfortunately, until Feb. 17 the department could not give me the name of the right officer.

Eventually the officer left a message on my voicemail. I heard the complete message then I lost it. This is my phone error. But to my surprise, how it is possible that information is not available in the (police) computer system?

In today's information technology this should be a click away and retrievable in seconds.

The reason I am writing this letter is because it is affecting the whole community. I wish we had a better system than what is available today.

RON BHALLA


Newspaper's future in city is important

The recent letter by Times Free Press Publisher Walter E. Hussman Jr. referring to the status of the newspaper was informative and appreciated. It is expected that many would wonder about the fate of own newspaper in view of many newspapers and magazines shutting down.

I am a senior plus in age and have subscribed to the Times Free Press for the 28 years I have lived in Chattanooga. For 45 adult years prior to moving here, I lived in a half dozen or so places and subscribed to the daily newspaper that was available. The Times Free Press is the best.

While growing up around Columbia, S.C., during the depression years, my parents' only means of receiving the news was The State daily. We always referred to it as "the paper." We shared it with a couple of neighbors who could not afford the approximate $1.50 weekly subscription.

As the Times Free Press makes changes, I think most seniors will remain supportive. It remains by far the less-costly means of news, advertising specials and general reading enjoyment.

One overlooked minor benefit of the paper is, unlike the computer, we can swat flies with it.

TOY M. HEAPE, Hixson


Vouchers are no good for public schools

Vouchers are a threat to the public school system in the sense that immunization is a threat to disease.

DONALD CHEATHAM, Tullahoma, Tenn.

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