Deterrents to Gun Violence

Re “Think Outside the NRA Box,” editorial, May 16: I understand that there are many who believe guns are inherently “bad,” but criticizing President Bush for not closing the gun show loophole to curb gun violence is insulting to the public’s intelligence.

If you don’t like guns, say you don’t like guns, but asserting that eliminating the gun show loophole will reduce gun violence is asinine.

Kerry Britton

Palm Springs

You use as arguments against Project Exile, a program that has shown results in lowering gun violence, the cost of putting violent offenders away, and the gripes of federal judges for having to work too hard on all these cases. Why are suspects being released before trial? We hear your editorial laments over gun violence victims, in a time when the number of victims has been dropping as the number of guns has been increasing.

I would rather spend money on locking up violent people, no matter what weapon they use, instead of on useless laws only followed by law-abiding citizens. Weighing the cost of locking up a known lawbreaker versus the life of an innocent citizen is a hard decision, one that The Times is not capable of making.

Gerald Wilson

Covina

No matter how many laws, no matter how many policemen, no matter how much “common sense,” criminals will always be able to obtain guns. If The Times could wave its magic wand and make all of the guns in the world just cease to exist, most common criminals who wanted a gun could have one by tomorrow afternoon. A firearm is probably one of the simplest devices man can make. Walk into any public library in this country and you will find the plans for just about any firearm that has existed in the last 500 years.

Until we do something to repeal the 1st Amendment, everyone will have access to this information, and they can make all of the guns that they want.

Spencer R. Rackley IV

Charlotte, N.C.

Bush wants to give the appearance that he’s really concerned about gun violence (“Bush Takes Aim at Gun Violence,” May 15).

A felon, deranged individual or enraged person can obtain a weapon at gun shows across the nation virtually without a background check and perhaps use it on someone. Project Exile won’t make you or me safe from a bullet once it leaves a gun.

Why are Bush and the National Rifle Assn. so willing to protect the gun-wielder at the expense of you and me? The assailant should be identified and stopped before the bullet can be fired instead of after. I and others I have spoken to don’t want to be the sacrificial statistic that leads to a gun-related arrest. Restrict easy access to firearms first.

Don A. Norman

Los Angeles