LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Franklin would disapprove of Toomey deal

OPINION:

The sellout by “conservative” Sen. Patrick J. Toomey, Pennsylvania Republican, on gun control opens up a valid question (“Sens. Joe Manchin, Pat Toomey roll out background-check compromise on guns,” Web, Wednesday). If we can make arbitrary calls about who can own a gun for home defense, we should also use the same yardstick to determine who can own or have access to the average 4,000-pound American vehicle.

Should any person who could not legally own a gun be able to drive a car or fly an airliner or be a judge or doctor? My risk of injury or death from medicated commercial pilots, drivers and even doctors is much greater than it is from someone with a gun in their home. That’s especially so when the majority, if not all, of the mass killers have used a vehicle to get to their killing fields.

As Ben Franklin once said: “He who would trade liberty for some temporary security deserves neither liberty nor security.”

JOSEPH DUPONT

Towanda, Pa.