Assault Weapons Ban Approved

* In response to “Assault Weapons Ban Clears House by Slim Margin,” May 6:

Well, congratulations to the “politically correct” and emotionally hysterical comrades of President Clinton, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Charles Schumer. You have accomplished absolutely nothing! What good is symbolism if it has no substance?

Three past presidents were even duped into promoting this ban on “assault weapons” (May 5) that will do nothing to reduce violent crime. Their letter admitted that it will not help: “The 1989 import ban resulted in an impressive 40% drop in imported assault weapons traced to crime between 1989 and 1991, but the killings continue.” The very fact that the killings continue just proves that this ban will not affect violent crime. The criminals will just use other weapons that are available to them.

I know what you’re saying: It’s time then, to take all guns out of the hands of the public. But that will never happen. First, even an anti-gun Congress and President know that they can never take guns from criminals, so they will never leave us defenseless. But even more important, the Second Amendment will never be repealed. Even if you continue to nibble away at it with meaningless efforts to reduce crime, it will never happen.

My hope is that once you realize the ultimate futility of your efforts, and admit they are non-productive, you will turn your enormous energies toward solving the crime problem and its causes.

MICHAEL E. SMITH

Placentia

* I found it nearly schizophrenic of your editorial staff to publicly praise the passage of the “assault weapons” bill in the House of Representatives (May 6) and on the opposite page to print a column by the prime minister of Bosnia pleading for weapons to protect his nation from more of the 200,000 deaths and 400,000 injuries that have been visited upon the Bosnian population by the Serbs. I would assume that they don’t want these weapons for duck hunting.

Allow me to quote the prime minister: “Had we not been deprived of our legitimate right of self-defense, we would never have had so many victims. . . . Only when we are armed and able to respond to Serbian moves in kind will they behave differently.” Oh, those nasty assault weapons. They aren’t good for anything. Just ask any Bosnian.

KURT SENSE

Costa Mesa

* Re “Ford, Carter, Reagan Push for Gun Ban,” May 5: Of course Ford, Carter and Reagan can push for a gun ban. If I had the Secret Service protecting me the rest of my life, I wouldn’t need my gun either!

DENISE WAITE

Tarzana

* If I had any doubts about voting for Bill Clinton in ‘92, they were erased when I noticed the missing signature on the letter to House members urging them to support a ban on assault weapons. It was signed by only three of our four ex-presidents.

JILL CHAPIN

Santa Monica

* What an enlightening article--”Putting Their Trust in the Gun” (April 29). If criminals carry guns, ignoring the laws, and police admit they can’t protect us adequately, maybe it would be better for society as a whole for honest, law-abiding citizens to arm themselves. Putting some fear into the bad guys for a change would be a welcomed improvement.

TERRY ELLIS

Santa Clarita