Terry Friedman
* It dismays me to read news such as Assemblyman Terry Friedman’s (D-Brentwood) proposed absolute ban of handguns (Dec. 4). Apparently his constituents in Brentwood are of the opinion that by removing the tool that is used in a good number of crimes, the fatalities will be stopped.
Mr. Friedman, if your methods were applied, am I to assume that we should also ban knives and heavy objects?
It is the lack of values which is “rupturing the social fabric of California,” not handguns. When you draft your bill, please be sure to include a clause requiring all criminals to turn in their handguns as well.
BRAD BERNETT
Marina del Rey
* Here is where I and many other citizens part company with Friedman. Since there is no way of ridding all the bad guys of their arsenals of weapons, a ban leaves an awful lot of honest, hard-working, scared, under-policed citizens with no method of protecting themselves. It is true many citizens wouldn’t have a gun or use a gun, but I and many others thought freedom was about choices, and those citizens wanting this protection should have at least the same choice as the bad guys.
MARCIA BROOKS
Woodland Hills
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