This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Guns are made primarily to kill people and animals. Murdering people is the worst possible crime in our society. Logic therefore dictates that, of all devices and substances, guns should be the most carefully regulated.

A government that can't regulate a device made specifically for killing has no right to regulate tobacco, alcohol, motor vehicles, spice, meth, pseudoephedrine, movies, sex or marriage. I favor reasonable laws regarding all of those things.

Simply requiring gun owners to obtain a modified version of Utah's hunter safety certification would be sufficient. That simple education would prevent most accidental gun deaths and is worth two hours of inconvenience.

Steve Hawkins

Sandy