Letters submitted by BDN readers are verified by BDN Opinion Page staff. Send your letters to [email protected]
There is no perfect gun legislation. There are almost always unintended consequences to every law that is passed.
But we are in our late 80s and we are tired of waiting.
We believe in the constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and that includes the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
We are so weary of seeing all the lives shattered by guns and know it is time to pass a 72-hour waiting period so at least some suicides will be averted, a background check that includes gun shows and a red flag law that will enable our marvelous but and frustrated police to take effective and timely action.
Though we must indeed address such issues as mental health, domestic violence, bullying, racism, rage, and poverty we cannot use that as an excuse to hold off on important gun laws. And legislators have to set aside their worries about re-election and do the right thing for Maine. With the hundreds of millions of guns out there it will take a long time before many lives are saved.
But Mainers support and yearn for these laws. It’s time for action. Please legislators, do the right thing. As we said, we are so tired of waiting.
Sandra and Ole Jaeger
Georgetown