March 28, 2024

Shouldn’t we be more proactive?

I see where Jasper County Attorney Scott Nicholson tells the Newton News he is “fed up” with the recent gun crimes that have occurred here. While it is commendable Mr. Nicholson is vowing to take action in regard to these cases, it seems a little naive to present the view that he’s shocked these crimes are happening here.

When you allow every Tom, Dick and Harry in the county to possess firearms without properly vetting those individuals, you have to expect this type of behavior to occur,
especially when emotions and tempers run hot and reasonable thought goes out the window.

It’s similar to the mayor and city council being puzzled and outraged after the state allowed everyone in town to buy fireworks, so many people would ignore the restrictions placed upon their usage.

Maybe it would be a good time to start making certain firearm permits be only given to responsible gun owners and start trying harder to keep them out of the hands of those who are unknowledgeable, untrained and ill-prepared to use them responsibly.

John C. Moore

Newton