Gun safety: Ignorance abounds on bump stocks

Re: “Bump stock ban a good starting place for gun safety,” (TNT, 1/21).

Your editorial shows disdain for facts, as well as ignorance of the subject.

“Bump Stocks” are a particular item which, when added to a semi-automatic firearm, allows it to fire more rounds-per-minute than intended by the gunmaker.

Personally, I don’t care for them, as they are inherently inaccurate — good for fun in short-range “blasting” at plinking targets, but of little purpose otherwise.

The Las Vegas shooter used numerous weapons because each one jammed as it was being used. He was successful in his murder spree because the target was an area filled with massed humanity, not requiring precisely aimed fire to achieve his desired effect.

The bump-stock bill in question, however, is very broad and ambiguously worded: It may not only be used to ban the gun part as used by the Vegas shooter, but also such things as target triggers, belt-loops, and shoe laces.

It is stupid to attempt to restrict items such as these because one crazy man employed it to wreak havoc.

You, thus, are among those who wish to punish the law-abiding for the sins of one man.

This story was originally published February 4, 2018 at 2:46 PM with the headline "Gun safety: Ignorance abounds on bump stocks."