OPINION:
Gun Owners of America’s John Velleco is spot on: When it comes to violence and mass killings committed by disturbed and/or hate-filled people bent on harming others, guns are by no means the only tools available (“The IRS is the only assault weapon we should ban,” Web, Sept. 6).
In addition to the three examples Mr. Velleco provides (knives, planes and vehicles), don’t forget the numerous incidents on subways in New York City and other large urban areas where fists are used to assault commuters and where riders are pushed in front of oncoming trains. And then there is the occasional use of a pipe bomb or other explosive device — not to mention deadly chemicals sent through the mail — used to cause harm. Piling further restrictions onto law-abiding gun owners doesn’t address any of this.
Liberal, soft-on-crime policies implemented by sociopolitical activist district prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges — along with the movement to vilify and minimize law enforcement — sends a message to those violent offenders that there are few, if any, consequences to their actions.
We need fundamental changes to our criminal justice system to reduce violence — and we need to charge criminals with appropriate sentencing. We do not need more gun control.
ROBERT SNYDER
Greenbelt, Maryland
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