The editorial, “Enforce Existing Gun Laws” in the March 26 edition of the Butler Eagle, trots out all the tired arguments about why more regulation of guns isn’t necessary. Let’s see what the facts say.

First suggestion, we need more and better funded police. The police show up after the fact, after the violence has occurred. Police presence is not preventing anything, at least in the way policing is typically done. And all too often the police are called when what is really needed are mental health professionals and social workers. How about better funding for those first responders?

Second suggestion, we should enforce the laws we have. Obviously. But there are loopholes you can drive a whole fleet of trucks through in those laws. Background checks only apply to sales from a licensed dealer, not from private transfers of ownership, which account for at least 20% of all gun acquisitions.

If I sell or give you my car, there are all sorts of forms to fill out to transfer the title to the new owner. But a gun, nothing.

Third suggestion: Send criminals to jail and keep them there. Fear of punishment is not a deterrent for crime; that’s an idea that has been debunked over and over again. More opportunities for good jobs, education and support services are far more effective at deterring crime.

More than half of all gun deaths are suicides. None of those three recommendations address this issue. We need much better mental health services for people in crisis. Less access to lethal means of attempting suicide would also buy some time for those services to actually help those in need.

We live in a country where there are more guns than people: 120 guns for every 100 people. We have become so used to gun violence that only the spectacular mass murders get widespread attention.

The daily loss of life when an argument turns into a deadly gunfight, or a child is killed while playing with a gun found at home, are so commonplace that it may get one mention in the local news at best.

And I always wear my mask.

Carolyn Steglich, Harrisville