Hicks Misses on Smoking, Guns

* I read with some amusement Jerry Hicks’ column, “The Tough Answer: Fight Back,” (Sept. 25). While much of it made sense--nobody can defend themselves if they are taken entirely by surprise; disparaging comments concerning firearms are worse than useless. They are deceptive.

How is it that “you are more likely to wind up getting shot if you have a weapon the attacker can get away from you?” If he is that close, you’ve almost certainly lost no matter what you do. If you are going to defend yourself, which is easier to do: physically take down a man who almost certainly is going to be stronger than you are, taller than you are and definitely psyched up to do you some grave harm? Do you want to wrestle him? Or pull a gun on him?

The martial arts are certainly useful but they can require months or even years of sustained effort to gain any useful skill, whereas you can master the use of a revolver sufficiently in mere hours. And which is more intimidating, a karate stance or the maw of a .38?

CHRIS D. PHILLIPS

La Habra

* Hicks’ tirade against possible smoking violations by customers and staff of Tustin’s Revere House Restaurant reflects, in my opinion, a lack of journalistic quality (“Law Is Law, With No Ifs, Ands or Butts,” Sept. 28) .

Not content with condemning Mike Doyle, owner of the Revere House, Hicks makes oblique criticism of the Tustin police and its command.

Bug off on Tustin. I don’t smoke but enjoy the camaraderie of the Revere House, and I believe the city to be one of California’s finest, including the police force and its staff.

ROBERT G. WRIGHT

Tustin