Why is certification required for scuba gear but not guns?

I read the article The Herald published about scuba diving (“More scenic charm under the water,” June 10) and it struck me that scuba gear cannot be rented to divers without them showing that the proper certification classes have been passed.

I’m not pro- or anti-gun ownership and am pretty naïve about gun ownership, but why isn’t a similar process in place for gun and ammunition purchase, i.e., a prospective gun purchaser without that certificate trying to buy a gun or ammunition would cause the gun dealer to say “Sorry, not this time”? Could this process prevent future Mukilteo shootings from taking place?

Fabian Borowiecki

Everett