Heston’s Issue Is With Court, Not Film

Charlton Heston, vice president of the National Rifle Assn., has taken Barbra Streisand to task for the TV movie she produced, “The Long Island Incident” (Morning Report, May 5 and 6). The movie depicted the consequences of a gunman killing six people aboard a New York commuter train in 1993. Heston claims the movie misrepresents the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Although Heston is recognized by many as being the world authority on the Ten Commandments, his knowledge of the Constitution leaves much to be desired. As has been clearly stated by Warren E. Burger, former chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, the 2nd Amendment guarantees a state’s right to maintain a well-regulated militia, nowadays referred to as a National Guard. Other than that, Burger has said, the right to bear arms is not an unconditional one.

Rather than challenge Streisand to a debate on the 2nd Amendment, it would be more appropriate for Heston and the NRA to argue the issue before a federal court. Is it because the federal courts have never ruled that there is an inherent right to own a gun that they avoid the embarrassment of such a public rejection?

MARVIN STERN

Santa Ynez

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Streisand’s movie was at least based on fact and reality, which is more than can be said about the claims of Heston and the NRA.

MICHAEL MAHER

Apple Valley

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Every time I try to write a letter to the editor about Charlton Heston, my computer’s spell-check suggests that his name is actually “Charlatan.” There! It just did it again! Mere coincidence?

GEORGE BENTLEY

La Puente

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I have found the recent flap over gun control between Barbara Streisand and Charlton Heston to be very amusing. Neither seems to have a grip on reality. To me, the real issue is holding people accountable for crimes committed with guns, and neither party addresses this.

JOE MICHAEL

Pasadena

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Who better to represent a tired, old, outdated amendment than a tired, old, outdated actor?

PETER LEE

Palos Verdes Estates