Shooting Over Stolen Pumpkin

* Pete Solomona claims that his shooting of a 17-year-old pumpkin thief was an accident (Oct. 21). I feel very sorry for him and for the family and friends of the dead young man, but accident? The firing of a gun in the hands of an angry man is never an accident. It is as predictable as the sun rising in the east. This is another example of a normal, good, decent man committing a horrible act because he had a gun when he lost his temper.

I imagine NRA propagandists will cite this as another example of a householder successfully defending his property.

BILL FRYE

Los Osos

* This is a tragedy in every sense of the word. The lives of both families have been shattered--and for what? A stolen plastic pumpkin? I am angered by Solomona’s shocked reaction, saying (of the gun) “it just went off.” What did he think might happen when he took a loaded .357-caliber revolver, walked outside and pointed it right at those teenagers?

His irrational and impulsive behavior led to this sad, violent ending. Solomona must be held accountable for his actions, whether his intentions were to hurt this boy or not.

CATHY MARTIN

Toluca Lake

* The person I blame in the deadly Halloween prank is Brandon Ketsdever and his buddies. If they weren’t out stealing (which is a crime) someone else’s property, much less from the wrong house, perhaps none of this would’ve happened. Solomona was simply a homeowner protecting his property.

CATHY STOTTS

Los Angeles