Readers React: California needs serious gun control, not half-baked measures

To the editor: Thankfully, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom will support a proposed ballot initiative on gun safety next fall. Unfortunately, the measure will be a watered-down version of nine unsuccessful bills from our Legislature; its central provision will be background checks on those buying ammunition. (“On gun control, Newsom seems to be following Bloomberg’s strategic lead,” Nov. 22)

We need comprehensive handgun control and the elimination of semi-automatic rifles, just like every country in Europe.

Post-World War II statistics document more deaths from handguns in the United States than the total number of Americans killed in the Korean and Vietnam wars combined. Assuming for argument’s sake we chip away year by year and reach parity with Britain and match its gun laws, there likely will have been 250,000 more killings in the interim.

Kevin H. Park, Woodland Hills

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To the editor: Since Newsom wants to ban militia rifles and standard-capacity magazines, what is he planning on leaving for us to exercise our 2nd Amendment rights?

It is now quite obvious that the enemies of this country are armed with automatic Kalashnikov rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and various explosives. What if they arrive here? What will we have to defend ourselves with? Slingshots? Rocks and bottles? A pistol that shoots a flag out of the muzzle with “BANG!” written on it?

Since when do we pass laws on the basis of what criminals are doing? Criminals are not affected by laws. Only the law-abiding will be disarmed. We will be defenseless like the poor souls in Paris.

Dan MacPherson, Altadena