Posted on 01/26/2004 3:10:39 AM PST by Pharmboy
To the Editor:
Re "The Power of the Gun Lobby" (editorial, Jan. 22):
While the gun industry has for years increased its profits at the expense of people's lives, it is a shame that our Congress has also chosen to profit politically at this same expense.
As you say, Congress looks as if it will not budge on the issue of gun control. If this is true, there is one way all Americans can profit in November: by ousting legislators who will not protect their own people.
MATTHEW TAVERNA
Williamsburg, Va., Jan. 22, 2004
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To the Editor:
While having reasonable, rational control on firearms is a necessary part of any civilized society, unsubstantiated statements about the efficacy of gun control laws only inflame passions and paralyze moderates trying to craft compromises between the pro- and anti-gun forces in America.
In "The Power of the Gun Lobby" (editorial, Jan. 22), you say the assault weapons ban has "saved lives." This has not been proved. Few, if any, crimes have ever been committed with so-called semiautomatic assault weapons that were or are legally owned.
While some violent criminals do use machine guns to further their illicit activities, those weapons are banned not by the soon-to-expire assault weapons law, but rather by a 1934 federal statute that regulates, taxes and in some cases outlaws fully automatic weapons.
MARTIN W. SCHWARTZ
Nanuet, N.Y., Jan. 22, 2004
The writer is a former assistant district attorney in the Bronx.
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To the Editor:
Re "The Power of the Gun Lobby" (editorial, Jan. 22):
We do not need gun control; we need criminal control.
The National Rifle Association is one small voice that keeps us citizens, not subjects.
BOB CLUNIE
Picayune, Miss., Jan. 22, 2004
Maybe. More likely they ran out of time to make some up.
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