‘Outrage in War on Guns’

I feel compelled to write knowing that nothing I say will change the minds of anti-gun control adherents. Nevertheless:

A steady stream of news stories relating gun-related killings by teen-age gangs, mentally disturbed individuals, freeway shootings (supposedly law-abiding citizens suffering a momentary lapse of judgment) and children accidentally shooting themselves or their friends are more than sufficient evidence that some sort of effective national gun-control laws are mandated.

The argument that gun laws would only affect law-abiding citizens is specious at best. The idea that criminals would disobey the law, therefore it should not be enacted, is a proposal that could be made against any law. Still, we are a country that lives by laws, and our laws say much about the character of our society. Laws are the rules upon which we commonly agree to pattern our lives--a community agreement formalized.

If a person is going to own a gun, any gun, the ability to understand and use it should be demonstrated, and a license then awarded as a protection to the public. The old anti-gun control cry, “guns don’t kill, people do,” was rendered dishonest when a law was recently proposed to control people: the seven-day waiting period on handgun purchases. It was vigorously opposed by the NRA.

In my opinion the NRA in its opposition to even the mildest form of gun control shows it to be not only irresponsible but one of the most actively dangerous organizations in the United States. The NRA wields tremendous power over our Congress. As someone has said, it is frightening that those with the guns have the most power. Our representatives and senators must make progress toward a more civilized society and not be swayed by its basest interests.

ROBERT E. NOFER

Pasadena