Extend background checks on gun buyers

I heartily agree with the May 7 editorial, “Awash in guns, fear, we’re less safe,” about the need for common-sense policies in our state, including background checks for guns purchased online or at gun shows.

This is not currently required under federal law as it only mandates background checks for guns purchased through licensed dealers. Comprehensive background checks are effective, as evidenced by data from the 18 states and Washington, D.C. that require them for all handgun sales.

In states that require background checks for private handgun sales, there are 46 percent fewer women shot to death by intimate partners, 48 percent fewer firearm suicides and 48 percent fewer law enforcement officers killed by handguns. On an average day in America, 91 people are killed by guns; seven of them are children or teenagers.

We’re Americans, and we can do better than this. We can create policies to prevent firearm injuries and deaths. After all, 92 percent of Americans support criminal background checks.

This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 7:30 PM with the headline "Extend background checks on gun buyers."