Dog dies on a plane, legislators write a bill. Kids get shot at schools, Congress does what?

Seven thousand pairs of shoes, one for every child killed by gun violence since the Sandy Hook school shooting, were placed on the Capitol lawn on March 13.

March 23, 2018 4 AM PT

To the editor: When United Airlines admitted responsibility for the death of a passenger’s dog after a flight attendant insisted that it be placed in an overhead bin, federal legislators took less than a week to draft and introduce a law that would penalize airlines’ reckless behavior with pets. (“Dog death on United Airlines prompts legislative proposal and policy change,” March 15)

Dozens of schoolchildren, churchgoers and concert attendees have perished in shootings, yet no statutes have been enacted or even sent to either house of Congress for a vote that might prevent the senseless loss of human life.

It seems as if animal-rights groups have much better lobbyists than the organizations that advocate for stricter gun laws. But, of course, the animal activists’ job is so much easier: A cuddly little dog is so much more valuable in America than a cuddly second-grader.

Peter Altschuler, Santa Monica

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