Every day, people misuse guns in our country. Those who should not get a gun, such as criminals, domestic abusers, those suffering from mental illnesses, etc. can use the many loopholes in our state and federal systemsto get their hands on a deadly weapon.

The first line of defense is universal background checks on all sales, public and private. Even though 90 percent of Americans agree with this, the gun industry and the NRA leadership fight background checks.

As we recoil from the details of yet another mass shooting incident, the second Ft. Hood gun massacre, we see a glimmer of hope that Pa. might do something to help.

HB 1243, which is a good bill with bi-partisan support on reporting mental health records, was made much better with an amendment that would close our loophole on long gun private sales.

Right now, in Pennsylvania, you can buy a rifle, like the semi-automatic AR-15 and AK-47 models, privately, without a background check. The amendment would require a background check for all sales, public and private.

The problem is that the Republican House leadership is asking for the amendment to be repealed. If we really want to make a difference to our friends and neighbors, contact your state legislator to say we need this law now.

Closing the long gun private sale loophole will not save everyone from gun violence. But it would have saved Berks County Deputy Sheriff Kyle Pagerly, who was shot by a young man who bought an AK-47 privately, and would have failed a background check.

TOM BUGLIO, Delaware Valley Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, West Chester