Jesse Jackson on Black Violence

In response to Jesse Jackson’s Column Left, “When Blacks Kill Blacks, There’s Silence” (Commentary, Dec. 16):

Jackson’s observation that too much killing is going on is right on target; he misses the mark, though, when he starts in with the racist harangue. Guns of all description are equally available to all comers in our society and in direct proportion to the law of supply and demand. The apparent fact that black people are using them in greater numbers than white people says more about the effect of his excuse-making and blame-laying than the guns themselves.

If he wants to effect real change among his constituents, he should return to his early- and mid-’60s rhetoric whereby he encouraged the disadvantaged to personally work to improve their lot in life and not rely on government or anyone else to do it for them. If he would join me in promoting swift and certain punishment for criminal conduct, instead of blaming rich, white justice, we would see a decreasing prison population and a more affluent and productive general population.

DONALD R. BOYD

Ventura