Debate Over Gun Control

* Re “ . . . And the Gun Toll Rolls On,” editorial, April 18: Once again The Times supports the view that we are all victims without any responsibility. Your editorial seems to be a contradiction; on one hand you blame Congress for inaction and in the next breath you state that no legislation would have made any difference. You can’t have it both ways.

The killers in Colorado broke 18 gun laws. Why do you not talk about enforcement of the laws we already have? What about the responsibility of the parents of these kids or of the authorities who were alerted to these two before anything happened.

Sorry, I didn’t mean to confuse the issue with facts. After all, we can’t be expected to think for ourselves; only the media can do that for us.

RICH DEKKER

Los Angeles

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When will The Times and Bill Clinton stop exploiting the Columbine tragedy to further their own agendas? The Times admits that neither trigger locks, magazine bans, waiting periods nor any of the other proposed gun laws will do anything to prevent another tragedy. Background checks already exist at gun shows and are not opposed by most gun owners.

Upon closer examination it becomes obvious that the scheme proposed by Clinton and Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is actually nothing more than an attempt to tax guns into oblivion. Shame on them for such blatant, dishonest exploitation.

RON HOWARD

Bellflower

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Re “House Approves GOP Gun Bill,” April 12: An unholy alliance of the National Rifle Assn. and Republicans has created a smoke screen. Punishment after the crime doesn’t stop the killing. A start needs to be made at lessening the massive, escalating arsenal in America.

RUTH ROSEN

Santa Monica