Jeffrey Haycraft is a resident of Camden.
Jeff Hague’s recent editorial (“Focus on perpetrators of crime, not guns”) frames the debate as a choice: Either punish offenders or strengthen gun laws. That’s a false choice. If we want safer communities, we need both.
I say this not as someone unfamiliar with firearms but as someone who grew up in a household with guns and who has been around them his entire life. I respect responsible gun ownership. My concern is promoting safety — making sure that rights come with responsibilities. I think that Mr. Hague — like many folks — believe that I’m just some uptight liberal, coming to take his beloved firearms. I want to be clear: I am only interested in what is best for Delaware and our communities.
On longstanding restrictions
Mr. Hague downplays regulations on machine guns and sawed-off shotguns as little more than a tax scheme. But these restrictions have stood for over 90 years because the public recognized that some weapons are uniquely dangerous. Even the Supreme Court, in Heller, acknowledged that the Second Amendment is “not unlimited” and does not bar longstanding rules on dangerous weapons.
On background checks and safe storage
Calling these laws “confiscation” is misleading. Background checks are supported by nearly 90% of Americans, including most gun owners, because they keep weapons out of the hands of felons and domestic abusers. And the claim that over 90% of crime guns are stolen is false. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, only about 6% of guns used in crimes are stolen; most come from black-market sales (43%) or transfers from friends and family (25%). In other words, most crime guns start out as legal purchases. That’s exactly why checks and tracking laws matter.
Safe storage laws aren’t government intrusion; they’re common sense. Research shows that they reduce child shootings and youth suicides. We already childproof medicine bottles and require seat belts — why should guns, which are far deadlier, be exempt?
On AR-15s and assault-style rifles
Yes, handguns are more common in day-to-day crime. But assault-style rifles are disproportionately used in mass shootings because they allow sustained, devastating fire. Studies show that shootings involving these rifles are deadlier than those involving other guns. Pretending they’re no different ignores reality.
On age limits
We already set 21 as the minimum age for buying handguns from dealers. That’s not arbitrary — 18- to 20-year-olds commit gun homicides at nearly four times the rate of older adults. We limit alcohol, tobacco and gambling based on public health evidence, even if Mr. Hague doesn’t seem to think firearms are a “public health” concern. Firearms deserve the same standard of care and protection.
On America’s gun violence
The U.S. firearm death rate is far higher than that of Canada, Germany or Japan. That’s not because Americans are more violent but because access to guns is less restricted. Accountability matters, but prevention matters, too.
Where we agree
I share Mr. Hague’s belief that prosecutors must take gun crimes seriously. Repeat offenders should not cycle in and out of the system. But prevention cannot stop there. The shooters in Sandy Hook, Uvalde and Parkland weren’t hardened criminals — they were able to kill because the law gave them easy access to powerful weapons.
The truth is simple: Focusing only on criminals after the fact isn’t enough. Safe storage, background checks and red flag laws won’t take guns from responsible owners like my family — they’ll save lives. Accountability and prevention must go hand in hand.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
