On issue of gun control, what a difference a map can make

Publicizing the addresses of gun permit holders was alternately seen as advertising where thieves can steal guns or broadcasting where people live who don't have a permit and are thus more vulnerable to home invasions. None of this appears to have been taken into account by Journal News executives.

As long as gun-related violence occurs, people on both sides of the gun control controversy will exploit tragedies for political gain. Easy answers will be sought. Moves to restrict gun ownership will lead to a surge in gun-buying and memberships in the National Rifle Association. Comparisons will be made between the United States and countries with strict gun control measures — and between states like Oklahoma and Connecticut.

What gun control proponents can't answer is the question of what restricting future sales of weaponry will do to curb violence involving weapons that were bought five, 10, 15 or more years ago. And what they don't want to talk about are measures to identify and monitor individuals whose mental health status puts them in a higher risk category.

That would be profiling and a violation of individual rights — something gun control advocates don't seem to consider when weapon ownership and permitting is the issue.