L.A. Gangs Hold Communities Hostage

Re “Neighborhood Mourns Its Loss, Celebrates 2 Lives,” March 29: As a mother, every time I read about innocent children losing their lives to gang gunfire I cry for them and their families. It’s hard enough to raise children, but to lose them in this unbelievably senseless manner is horrifying.

Am I so naive to believe that these lawless gangs are the minority? Why is it not possible for the outrage that brings these communities together in sorrow and fear to also be the strength that binds them together in stopping these lawless murderers from having safety in silence?

If the safety net of this silence were to disappear and the murderers were identified one by one, the power would be on the side of the people, not the gangs. I realize that this may be overly simplistic but, for God’s sake, how horrible it must be to be a hostage to fear!

L.P. Taylor

Valencia

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I was saddened to see the continuing mayhem and murders taking place in our city, the cowardly acts of urban terrorists who shoot down innocent men, women and children. We are seemingly unable to contain this bloodshed in our own backyard, unable to find and arrest the murderers who commit these unspeakable acts -- and lack the will to outlaw firearms.

We are victims of an ongoing street battle at home. We are not living in the land of the free; we are living in fear for our lives from our fellow Angelenos. If we are not equipped to make safe our own streets, feed and educate our own hungry, how can we ever purport to make the world safe for democracy when we can’t be safe on our own block?

Betty L. Seidmon

Los Angeles