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Anyone arguing that since gun control laws do little to control violence, they are useless, and that the Second Amendment’s “right to keep and bear arms” Is sacred and unconditional, should pause and reconsider.

Australia was plagued with mass shootings until the National Firearms Agreement was passed, which reduced the carnage considerably. That Agreement provided;

- A person who possesses a firearm must have a firearm license and must demonstrate a “genuine reason” for holding a firearm license.

- Firearms must be registered by serial number.

- Categories of guns, from single shot to military type, are defined and who can use them.

- Transfer of ownership of guns is regulated.

- A gun buyback program by the government purchases privately owned firearms.

The effects of those gun laws include:

- The number of firearm-related deaths declined 47 percent.

- In 2014, 35 people were victims of firearms homicide,[

- Suicide deaths using firearms more than halved.

- Only 0.06 percent of licensed firearms are stolen.

Since the Second Amendment was written at the time when it took when an expert about 15 seconds to reload a musket, it may take an amendment the Constitution to get around a balky Supreme Court, but by adopting Australia’s gun control law, would go a long way toward satisfying the 75 percent of the public’s desire for sensible and effective gun control here.

JOSEPH HENRY WYTHE

Sandpoint