Letter to the LA Times

Thank you for one of the best editorials I’ve read concerning gun violence. The point about killers having one thing in common---they have guns---reminds me of an exchange on the television show 7^th Heaven, many years ago. Rev. Camden is told that “guns don’t kill; people do”. To which he quickly replied, “people with guns kill people!”

There is some initial reporting about the killer having some anger issues and was looking for his ex-wife. Whether that turns out to be the case or not, it reminds me of Homer Simpson being told he had to wait a few days for a background check before purchasing a gun. He replied, “But I’m angry now!”

Of course reducing gun violence requires we look at many issues. But how many deaths, how many years will it take, until we are able to look in the mirror and say, “It’s the guns, stupid”.

John Saville, Corona, CA.

Dear Friends

Above is my letter to the editor published this morning in the LA Times. It was Rev. Eric Camden on a 7^th Heaven episode who answered, “People with guns kill people!” James Carville coined the phrase “It’s the economy stupid” as a campaign strategist for Bill Clinton’s successful first campaign for the president---I changed economy to guns.

Glad to hear that today, the Senate took up legislation (again) to ban the sale, manufacture and importation of military-style assault weapons and high capacity magazines and other high capacity ammunition feeding devices. This includes the gun used by the civilian shooter in Monterey Park.

This will unlikely be passed anytime soon, but someday it will. Historians will wonder what took us so long!

John