Carole Cox: Gun permits provide waiting period

Allison Balmes’ Dec. 2 Point of View “Waiting to purchase guns would lower suicide rate” was well written and full of youthful passion. But let’s clarify the facts regarding a gun purchase in Wake County.

Balmes should to go to Cabelas and walk up to the gun counter and ask the clerk to show her some hand guns. She finds one that she thinks would work for her. She says to the clerk “I would like to buy that one.” She whips out her credit card, ready to pay and walk out with the gun, right? Wrong!

The clerk would tell her to trek to downtown Raleigh to the Wake County Court House, where the Wake County sheriffs office is located. She would then ask for a permit to buy a gun. I think she could go online to submit the permit. She would give the permit to the sheriffs office so they can check her out. About three days later she would be informed that she could pick up her permit at the sheriffs office. Then and only then could she legally purchase a firearm in Wake County.

Unfortunately, there are several ways to commit suicide that do not involve guns or knives.

This story was originally published December 8, 2016 at 10:57 AM with the headline "Carole Cox: Gun permits provide waiting period."