Dear Editor,

Our policymakers have a one-size-fits-all method of crafting laws. I cite a recent example in our Parliament re the Firearms Licensing Authority (FLA) debate on who can use a gun.

These policymakers, in their warped wisdom and attempt to target people with nefarious intent, will no doubt deny the rights and privileges that should be accorded to the majority who are decent law-abiding citizens.

They propose that only citizens who have gun licenses should be allowed to use a gun range. This, they say, is out of caution because there is the possibility that gunmen would go to the range and practice target shooting — or words to the effect. This is asinine. Gunmen don’t have to go to a range. They can go into any isolated place to practise shooting at targets.

Shooting has become a popular sport, and firearm holders should be able to take their spouses, children, and friends to a range and, under the supervision of the staff at the range, shoot at targets. This policy will turn legal gun owners into potential criminals/violators of the law.

Equally, every person who does not own a gun and wants to learn to shoot a gun should be able to go to a range without the approval of the FLA and, upon being properly identified, pay the requisite fees and under the supervision of the range personnel get lessons in shooting a gun. The range would keep records for the FLA.

Moreover, not everyone who wants the experience of shooting a gun wants to own or can afford one, they just want to participate in the sport. They should not be denied this privilege because policymakers fear that gunmen may use the range to become proficient in target shooting.

Policymakers would do well to consider the ordinary citizen and put in place rules and regulations that do not take away rights and privileges. Rules and regulations must be based on empirical evidence and not what policymakers think gunmen will/might do.

Authnel Reid

reidaut@icloud.com