I feel compelled to respond to the column, “Closing the gun show loophole” (BDN, April 2), by Christy Hinerman. This column is pure anti-gun rhetoric as the author has filled it with misinformation, innuendo and deceitful information. She said that no law in Maine prevents prohibited buyers from buying guns at gun shows. This is false, as all federal and state gun laws apply to prohibited buyers.

Hinerman said that the Brady Law has blocked more than 975,000 prohibited buyers from receiving guns. Fact: More than 95 percent of these buyers were legal, but the National Instant Criminal Background Checks (NICS) or FBI files were not up to date so it caused a legal gun purchaser an unnecessary delay before they received the gun.

The column claimed that criminals, domestic abusers and other prohibited buyers are buying guns at gun shows. Fact: Every gun bought at a gun show through a licensed federal firearms dealer goes through the same NICS-FBI check that the person would have to comply with if he or she bought that gun at any gun shop in Maine. Hinerman said that guns purchased at gun shows are the second leading source of guns recovered in gun trafficking. Where this “fact” came from is beyond me, as all information I have read states that less than 2 percent of illegal guns originate from gun shows.

What disturbs me most is what isn’t said by Hinerman: Private individuals have a legal right to buy, sell and trade guns here in the great state of Maine.

If LD 917, which would prevent prohibited buyers from purchasing guns by requiring NICS at Maine gun shows, becomes law then this would become illegal not just at gun shows but in Uncle Henry’s, newspaper want ads, two friends selling at someone’s kitchen table or in hunting camps throughout the state. This bill has very little to do with gun shows, but a lot to do with gun control.

Merle Cousins

Southwest Harbor