I was disgusted when I saw that the Republican Representative Matt Shea is planning to introduce legislation to repeal I-594, which was passed two years ago by 59 percent of the voters in this state. I-594 requires background checks for firearm sales outside stores, including many private sales and gun shows.

Does he not pay attention to the many articles written about the deaths that have been caused by someone wielding a firearm? Does he not pay any attention to the many news reports, broadcasts of television showing the latest killing rampage by someone who was not thought to be a threat to security, but still managed to take someone’s life, or lives, before anyone even suspected there was anything wrong? Or does he just not give a damn?

In my considered opinion, I-594 does not go far enough in that it does not require a long enough time period to do a thorough background check on anyone. That period should be at least two weeks, if not longer, and should apply to all firearms sales.

As far as repealing I-594 for the sake of our veterans and our families, this is just plain hogwash, as a far as God giving us the right to purchase firearms, I don’t recall that bit of information coming down from on high, and I’ve been around more than 80 years.

Representative Shea should be concentrating his efforts on what needs to be done to alleviate the important problems that confront our state, such as school funding, the homeless problem, reducing taxes and the government bureaucracy, not frivolous and self-serving quasi legislation.

Larry Wakefield

Aberdeen