Suing Gun Manufacturers

What kind of precedent does suing gun makers for those who use guns illegally (May 25) set? Detroit knows the maximum speed limit is about 80 mph, but makes cars that go 120 mph. Sue. A food company loads kids’ cereal with sugar that rots their teeth. Sue. A fast-food company makes tasty super-fat hamburgers, which endangers arteries. Sue. Where will it end?

KURT SIPOLSKI

Palm Desert

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If all the manufacturers of guns in the world dematerialized tomorrow, there would be enough guns for men to continue murdering each other for the next 1,000 years. After all guns don’t die, just people. Like cockroaches they will outlive us all.

JO CALDWELL

San Diego

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Why is it that when a city council member or other legislator is faced with a question exposing the inefficacy of a gun control law, the reply is always, “Well, at least it’s a start”? In fact, this is the headline of your May 23 editorial, “Gun Control: Only a Start.” None of the gun laws that are being urged in the wake of Littleton and Conyers would have prevented either of those tragedies. So why is there such a rush to create bad law?

ROBERT H. PENOYER

Monterey Park

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Re “If You’re Looking for a Scapegoat, Try NRA,” Commentary, May 21: Jann Wenner refers to the leadership of the National Rifle Assn. as fanatics and that may very well be true, but that may be what’s necessary to deal with anti-gun fanatics such as Sarah Brady and Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein.

The question of leadership of the NRA being out of touch with members is wrong and even if it weren’t, it would be dealt with by the 3 million dues-paying members who are polled in legitimate polls, unlike the skewed polling that takes place regarding gun issues.

MARK KEHLENBECK

Canoga Park

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I just had a flashback! It was early June 1968, and I, a UCLA college student, was watching the funeral of Robert Kennedy on television. With tears running down my face, I was writing letters to my senators and congressman begging them to pass more restrictive legislation concerning access to guns.

Fast forward to the early ‘90s. I see my son, editor of his high school newspaper, writing letters to The Times after the shooting sprees in Stockton and at a McDonald’s, again asking for stricter gun control laws.

I feel so helpless. I have spent 30 years closely following the voting records of my legislators regarding gun control and have voted accordingly. However, writing letters and voting against the NRA haven’t reduced the continuing carnage I witness nightly on the news. Is there anything else I can do?

CINDY HURWITZ

Calabasas