Letters to the Editor

A letter to the Honorable Senators of all states

RE: Federal Land Management

I read that Nevada land was recently sold for a large amount of money, and very little of the funds benefit the state of Nevada. I am troubled that a law established in the 1800’s which provides the Federal Agency with the ability to sell public lands was for the sole purpose of funding the war in the 1800’s and is still being used today.

Today the action of the Federal Agency neglects to take into consideration the financial needs of the state to which the land belongs, or in which borders the land exists. It would serve all states to seek to remove this right from the Federal Land Management Agency and grant it to the states in which the land resides. Nevada schools, police departments and many other agencies could use those funds to benefit the state’s residents and reduce the need to increase taxes.

I appeal to our representatives to introduce a bill that will limit the powers of the Land Management Agency and prevent these funds from being taken from the rightful owners.

Patricia Pearson

Gun safety laws should punish lawbreakers, not honest citizens

I read the article about the shopping for guns online study by the group ‘Everytown for Gun Safety.’ At least the article started off by calling the group correctly as an advocacy group for gun control, not gun safety. They would like all guns listed in a government registry making it easier in the future for the government to go collect all of the guns.

Gun safety is one of the main concerns of the NRA. The NRA was a major supporter of getting the background data base implemented. Unfortunately, not all information is given to the NICS system and not information supplied is correct.

According to FBI reports of those denied the right to purchase, around 8 percent have those denials reversed on appeal. In 2009, 19 percent of NICS denials were appealed and of those, 39 percent were reversed.

In California alone, there are thousands of people whose records are incorrect because court verdicts, both guilty, not guilty and dismissed have not been updated in the state database.

If the group really wants to go after people breaking the gun laws why not push for the government to use the laws on the books to punish violations. Everyone denied by the NICS who filled out the form 4473 has broken the law but few if any are prosecuted.

Another case, a man and friends steal 85 guns and other property. The man is caught and pleads guilty to two counts of robbery and gets sentenced to probation. Only 82 of the 85 guns have been recovered. You want gun safety to put the lawbreakers in jail and leave the honest citizen alone.

Bruce Kline