To the Editor:

Career politicians are ruining this country. Unfortunately, once elected, most of our politicians’ concerns are to become career politicians. Numerous tactics are used to meet their goal, i.e., gerrymandering, voter ID, caving in to lobbyists, etc.

Currently the hot topic is gun safety involving background checks. Roughly 40 percent of gun sales (Internet and gun shows where the seller is not a licensed dealer) are occur without background checks. Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, stated in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee in 1999 that the NRA supported expanding background checks. LaPierre has flip-flopped and now does not support background checks. The majority of NRA members support background checks, as well as an overwhelming majority of Americans.  

The Senate won’t pass background checks because the career politicians are afraid they might not get reelected. I respect and admire Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan for saying she would vote in favor of background checks. This could be the demise of her senatorial career; however, she has the intestinal fortitude to vote for what the majority supports.

Ron Rokstool

Maggie Valley