We cannot pursue happiness if we're in fear for our lives

To the Editor:

This is an open letter to Ohio Sen. Theresa Gavarone:

In response to your comments regarding SB58, prohibiting state or local government from requiring liability insurance or charging fees for the possession of firearms or knives, we view this legislation as yet another step in your quest to make guns more prolific and unregulated.

As we hope you know:

Cars: A person must have substantial training prior to achieving a driver's license. A person must be of a minimum age. Required to pay an annual license fee. Required to maintain insurance.

Homes: Owners must pay annual real estate tax. Insurance is required if there is a mortgage on the property. Prudence would lead to having insurance even if no mortgage.

Dogs: Required to be licensed every year. Prudent to include in liability insurance.

Hazardous materials are subject to annual inspections.

A recent survey by Fox News, indicates that a majority of Americans, including gun owners both Republican and Democrat, support efforts to reduce gun violence. Yet not only have you supported a lower age of gun ownership and less training on gun safety, inadequate background checks, adopting concealed carry, defending ownership by civilians of automatic weapons (meant for military because they are meant to kill as many people as quickly as possible), but now are also against guns being subject to liability insurance and fees because "it is our God-given right in the Bill of Rights" to own guns.

The Declaration of Independence states that "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are also unalienable rights. However, citizens are losing their lives daily due to gun violence, citizens do not have 'liberty' to feel confident that they will return from a trip to the store or children certain to return home from school, both of which certainly diminish their pursuit of happiness.

As a member of an international service club, dedicated to improving this world, one child and one community at a time, you should be concerned that many parents in America are scared to death to send their children to school. However, your support of gun rights and opposition to a woman's freedom to choose, indicates that you are more concerned with protecting the lives of the unborn, than those living and breathing in their pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.

Your concerned and distressed constituents,

Bob and Joan Callecod

Bowling Green