The following letter was sent to Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth, with a copy sent to the Cape Gazette for publication.
We very much appreciate your efforts in support of improved gun laws and congratulate you and other members of the House on what has already been accomplished. We're particularly happy about your support of HB 330 whose purpose is to increase the age for which purchase of some kinds of weapons is legal.
We know you are aware of the carnage these weapons can and have caused, notably though not exclusively in the hands of young people who should never have been allowed to acquire them. We are both saddened by the fact that your colleague in the Senate Ernie Lopez does not share the recognition of the importance of such legislation. When he says, and we quote from his 3/30 letter to the Cape Gazette suggesting "...House Bill 330 and Senate Bill 163, go too far..." we think he's just wrong and we have both spoken to him saying as much, expressing our concerns about what could be interpreted by some as a position based principally on political expedience.
Just as legal drinking age is set at 21 years of age to attempt to avoid unnecessary risk to public safety and the safety of young people, prudence indicates legal purchase of some firearms should meet the same standard. We thank you for your efforts and hope wisdom will prevail in this matter.
Marty and Toby Johnson
Rehoboth
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