A Lethal Aspect to Automobiles

* Where is the outrage? As I read last Monday’s paper, I couldn’t believe my eyes: two children dead by cars, one 3 years old (“Boy, 3, Falls Out Rolling Car, Is Crushed”) and one 17 (“Man Held in Hit-and-Run Death of Walker,” Oct. 1) and I asked myself: Where is the outrage?

The Million Mom March wants to ban guns because kids die in accidents, so why not cars? Guns were designed for killing, no doubt, so when someone dies from gunshots it should not be a shocker. But cars are for getting from Point A to Point B, not for killing. Where are the outcries; where are the lawyers; where is Rosie O’Donnell when we need her?

PAUL M. NICKERSON

Placentia

* Re “Boy, 3, Apparently Caused Car to Roll Before His Death,” (Oct. 3):

My current ride is a 2000 Acura Integra, and I’ve owned many manual transmission cars over the past 40 years. Without exception and without using the clutch, a light tug at the shift lever puts the car in neutral. Stating, as the article does, that the clutch pedal is “a built-in safety mechanism” is a potentially lethal error.

RON HEMBERGER

Irvine