To the Readers' Forum:
In January voters in Chautauqua and Tompkins counties will become part of the new New York congressional district represented by Tom Reed.
While we all wish the congressman well, his recent actions are not promising. Even after the Newtown massacre, he refuses to consider any reasonable gun regulation, including a ban on armor piercing, "cop killer" bullets that law enforcement agencies have begged Congress to pass.
Congressman Reed now says more attention to mental health issues is the answer to gun violence. However, he voted against increases in mental health funding and is on record as saying that he has doubts about enacting a ban against mentally ill people owning guns.
These are not the opinions of a reasonable defender of our Second Amendment rights. They reflect that of a politician who puts the profits of gun makers above common sense.
Ann Sullivan
Ithaca