The National Rifle Association immediately sued the state of Florida after the age to purchase a firearm was raised from 18 to 21. The association argued, “The bill punishes law-abiding gun owners for the criminal acts of a deranged individual.”
Using this twisted logic, the bill would have punished mass murderers Adam Lanza and Nikolas Cruz. Both were under the age of 21 and, though obviously mentally ill, had no criminal records. We know Lanza used his mother’s weapons in the Sandy Hook massacre, but, applying the NRA’s logic, should have been able to purchase his own weapons of mass destruction. He was 20 years old with no criminal record. Likewise, the NRA argument allowed Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old with no criminal record, to purchase his arsenal. Both of these young men were essentially “law-abiding” until they committed these horrific crimes.
How many more mentally ill, “law-abiding” young men under the age of 21 will murder innocent American schoolchildren before the citizens of this country stand up to an organization that punishes the innocent and protects the criminals?
James C. Fleming, Park City
