Gun Questions

* Dana Parsons’ Oct. 20 column poses more than one unanswerable question on why shootings like the killing of 17-year-old Brandon Ketsdever for taking a plastic pumpkin take place.

These killings take place because of the proliferation of guns in our society, millions upon millions of them in California alone. And why do we have millions of guns in our society? Because the 60% to 70% of voters who do not own guns refuse to exercise their vote to get rid of them. Most, probably because they think a person has a constitutional right to own a gun, which is a lie--nothing but pure National Rifle Assn. propaganda.

Another question: Why is the psychiatric establishment so very silent on the subject of gun ownership? Anyone with a lick of common sense knows that people with paranoid tendencies tend to arm themselves against perceived enemies.

JAMES R. GALLAGHER

Huntington Beach

* In his Oct. 20 column, Dana Parsons has shown us a new breed of anti-2nd Amendment absurdity.

He throws away credible studies that prove that when even a relatively small number of citizens carry concealed guns, crime goes down because criminals are not able to distinguish those who might defend themselves from those who are defenseless.

Parsons says he doesn’t care. So, according to him, crime is acceptable as long as the “normal”’ guys aren’t going off “their nuts.” Presumably this is a problem unique to guns. He seems to believe that police are the answer to our crime problems. As much as we need police, they are not in our homes protecting our families.

If a dangerous criminal were to enter your home, even if you were able to dial 911 and the police responded immediately, it would still be too slow to save your life if it was in danger.

JALILA AISSI

Laguna Hills

* In your Oct. 22 editorial “A Quick-Trigger Tragedy,” you continue to advocate “more effective gun control.”

What kind of gun control would have prevented this particular tragedy? I assume it was a registered handgun. To the best of my knowledge this grandfather had no previous criminal record, nor did he have a history of mental illness.

I’m sure he is one of the millions of “law-abiding citizens” the National Rifle Assn. is always referring to.

I guarantee that the more guns we have in the hands of these “law-abiding citizens,” the more accidents and unintended tragedies will occur. It’s inevitable.

Accept this fact or eliminate handguns entirely as they do in England and Canada. We can’t have accidental shootings if guns aren’t available. There is no other solution. It’s that simple.

BENNY WASSERMAN

La Palma