Gun bill would have been unenforceable
To the editor:
In the June 14 Review-Journal, Steve Sebelius wrote a column critical of Gov. Brian Sandoval’s veto of Senate Bill 221 (“Is this a veto message or a talk radio script?”). This bill would’ve required background checks for the private sale or transfer of all firearms.
Mr. Sebelius cites four arguments as to why this veto was wrong and why Gov. Sandoval should’ve signed the bill. However, he failed to mention that the Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association wrote: “The sections of SB221 requiring mandatory background checks on private sales place an unreasonable burden on law-abiding citizens, with the potential to make them criminals. It would be unenforceable by law enforcement. It is our opinion this bill would do little to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.”
This bill and similar proposals conveniently and consistently neglect those words — “unenforceable by law enforcement.” The only way such background checks on the private transfer of firearms could be enforceable is if every firearm was registered and the government (the police) then knew where every firearm was located and who owned it. Then periodically — perhaps every 6 months — the government could come to your house or business and demand to see the firearm registered in your name. If you didn’t have it in your possession, you’d have to produce the paperwork showing that you had a background check done on whomever you transferred the firearm to, or you would be arrested as a criminal. I ask that all of you who are for stronger gun laws stop and think about that for a moment.
If the government has such a database of all firearms and where they are, it’s a very short step for legislators to pass another law requiring the confiscation of all of a certain type of firearm — for example, assault rifles. Then the next year, they could pass a law requiring the confiscation of all handguns. This would continue until all private firearms had been confiscated. Your reaction might be, “Don’t be silly, our government would never do anything like that.”
SB221 would’ve simply been a feel-good law that would’ve done nothing to combat gun violence and would’ve severely restricted the constitutional guarantees of the Second Amendment.
WALTER F. WEGST
LAS VEGAS
Immigration overrun
To the editor:
America isn’t obligated to experience ruin by a million cuts inflicted by illegal immigration. It’s clear that America has plenty of serious problems of its own. We cannot reasonably sustain the intolerable inundation by illegal immigrants and the burden of supporting and caring for 11 million of them.
Government, as run by both parties, has betrayed our confidence by its gross failure to control the border with Mexico. Most civilized nations have strict immigration laws that they enforce. This includes Mexico. The United States, however, hasn’t enforced its own laws. As a consequence, we now have a massive influx on our hands.
Unfortunately, our elected representatives don’t have the will or strength to resolve the problem and restore national order. Some Americans believe that 11 million illegal immigrants have the self-ordained right to break our laws and pillage our nation’s hard-earned wealth simply because they feel they are better off in America than in Mexico. Americans who feel that way should take care of the immigrants on their own. Let this population move into their houses and take over everything they own. That’s exactly what many of them are doing to America, and it’s wrong.
BOB JACK
NORTH LAS VEGAS
The real Tea Party
To the editor:
I consider myself a staunch Tea Party voter. The words “tea” and “party” are simply identifiers for a certain cluster of people. We are not a party, neither Republican nor Democrat nor any other. We are the patriots who built this country, fought its wars and pay its bills.
When the Tea Party was born several years ago, there were no “leaders,” and there are none as yet. Sure, as soon as you gather a few people together, there are those who want to stick their name on it and assume the role of director or something, and the only thing you hear from them is to send more money to support the cause.
Still, Tea Party members are just patriots who want the best for this country, their family and all who live here, even if it hurts a little. We select the people that we personally feel are going to do the best for us and the country. It’s not about how much we can get out of the government.
I implore everyone to think about how much those government freebies are going to cost you and me. We should at least put Congress in a position to truly act as a one-third check on the intrusions into our lives.
JERRY ERNST
LAS VEGAS
Cashman Field
To the editor:
The Las Vegas 51s want to build a new stadium in the western part of the valley, and I support that effort. The question is: What becomes of Cashman Field? I propose making Cashman a soccer stadium. Lay the field out north to south, add seating in what is now right and center field to increase capacity to 20,000, and Las Vegas would have a natural-grass, Major League Soccer stadium with adequate parking.
RICK CRAWFORD
LAS VEGAS
