A recent op-ed by Leah Libresco in the Washington Post stated: “I used to think gun control was the answer. My research told me otherwise.”

Gun extremists have seized this article as “scientific proof” that gun control doesn’t work. Libresco bases her conclusions on a three-month study of gun violence that she and other colleagues at the website “538” conducted.

Libresco often misrepresents the study’s results and ignores many other studies that reach very different conclusions.

Libresco indicates gun control is not the answer to reducing gun violence. The study states “This doesn’t suggest that tighter gun control would have no effect on gun deaths.”

Research shows background checks and longer wait times lower homicide counts.

Libresco’s indicates that nearly two-thirds of gun violence deaths are suicides. Fatal suicides are much more likely with one or more guns in the house.

Guns are used 10 times more often for suicide than for self-protection.

The article states: “Almost no proposed restriction would make it meaningfully harder for people with guns on hand to use them.”

However, there are proposed legislative solutions such as an “Extreme Risk Protection Order“ that allows family members, partners and law enforcement to petition a court to temporarily prohibit new gun purchases and temporarily remove firearms from individuals in crisis.

A study of Connecticut’s ERPO law found 99 percent of warrants removed at least one gun and 44 percent of warrants resulted in respondents receiving psychiatric treatment. For individuals in crisis, ERPOs can provide a life-saving buffer.

We have an epidemic of gun violence in our country. Gun control alone is not enough.

We must also reduce poverty, increase treatment for mental illness and identify and protect those at risk for domestic violence.

Ken Peterson

Buchanan