Jonesboro Deaths

It concerns me that observers of the Jonesboro middle-school killings resort to classifying the perpetrators as “fledgling psychopaths” (“Violent Culture, Media Share Blame, Experts Say,” March 26). Looking to the media or to irrelevant psychological theories is like grasping at straws when the cultural phenomena that validate killing lie in plain sight.

Those who profess to be shocked by the killings must have missed the Gulf War as well. Our society’s tolerance of killing as a way to solve problems is hardly a secret. It is nonetheless inexcusable.

How, then, can anyone expect two young, impressionable boys to think killing is wrong when those who kill Iraqi “enemies” return as heroes and those who kill other animals are celebrated? Violence on television isn’t a cause, it’s an effect.

NIKOLAS TRENDOWSKI

Los Angeles

*

Your plea to keep firearms out of the hands of children is all well and good (editorial, March 26) insofar as young children ignorant of firearm safety are concerned. However, when children set out to kill people, it must be assumed that they will succeed in acquiring firearms if they are about.

Child behavior modification is at best a long-term goal and, in any event, cannot be legislated. The only viable near-term solution to the increasing predilection for violence on the part of children feeling the need to vent their frustrations is gun control.

MICHAEL HORSTEIN

Los Angeles

*

In the wake of the shooting, legislators respond by proposing more laws regulating guns. These laws will have a disproportionate impact on the vast majority of gun owners who are responsible and conscientious, and will have little impact on those who are not.

Why don’t we try something new? Let’s enforce the laws against shooting people.

KARL LEMBKE

Montrose