‘Nostalgic Appeal’ of the AK-47 Draws Fire

So the AK-47 semiautomatic assault rifle has “nostalgic appeal”? (“In Defense of the AK-47” by Patrick Mott, Feb. 24). What about the nostalgic appeal to their families of children killed by the AK-47 and similar weapons?

But then we should remember that “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people.” Why, then, are we concerned to reduce nuclear arsenals? Nuclear missiles don’t kill people; people kill people. Why are we concerned to eliminate the weapons of chemical and bacteriological warfare? Chemical and bacteriological weapons don’t kill people; people kill people. In short, no weapons kill people; only people kill people. But people without weapons designed exclusively for killing would find it more difficult to do so.

ROBERT E. MORSBERGER

Claremont