Olympics Bombing

* Re “Guard Who Saw Bomb Now Called Suspect,” July 31:

We don’t know yet if Richard Jewell is innocent or guilty in the Atlanta bombing but the man has already been “convicted” by the media. The media invoke “free speech,” which we all cherish, but does that excuse the irresponsibility in speculating and playing with people’s lives just to sell a story? Never mind a trial, this man hasn’t even been arrested yet!

PERRY ZUCKERMAN

Los Angeles

* Re “Olympic Bombing Stuns World,” July 28:

We know from the voice that it was a white male who made the 911 call--an amazing statement from the investigating authorities! The FBI can now tell your color from your voice! My guess is that nothing will be made of the FBI statement; however, had the FBI said that it was the voice of a black man we would not hear the end of the outrage. Fingerprints and DNA don’t lie--but anyone can imitate Donald Duck, President Clinton, Michael Jordan, Hirohito, etc.

HARRY F. HENSON

Westlake Village

* In “Clinton Again Urges Broader Terrorism Laws” (July 29), a paragraph was included about so-called “taggants,” which are supposed to allow investigators to trace explosives and gunpowder after an attack. The anti-terrorism bill mandated taggants be added to explosives but not to gunpowder, thanks to lobbying by the National Rifle Assn.

The NRA’s reasons for opposing taggants were completely ignored. The NRA opposed tagging gunpowder because of the danger that it would pose to millions of American shooters. Taggants are little bits of plastic that change the powder’s properties.

Taggants in gunpowder would not have saved Alice Hawthorne’s life. They would, however, place America’s 70 million gun owners at risk.

STEVE BELL