Steve Culbreth: No wait for shotguns, rifles

Regarding the Dec. 8 letter “Gun permits provide waiting period”: The scenario set out in the letter from the letter writer is only applicable to the purchase of a hand gun.

Shotguns and rifles do not have any permitting process. The dealer gets the name, birthday and Social Security number from the prospective purchaser, calls a telephone number for the ATF and gets approval for the sale almost immediately. There is no waiting period and a long gun will allow suicide as quickly as a handgun.

Allison Balmes’ Dec. 2 Point of View “Waiting to purchase guns would lower suicide rate” was not incorrect.

This story was originally published December 9, 2016 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Steve Culbreth: No wait for shotguns, rifles."