GUN CONTROL
Hollywood’s at fault for promoting violence
It’s insanity to believe that more gun rules and regulations will change anything for the good. It’s been tried before and no positive effect. Obama appointing Joe Biden to do something is just a political move. Horrible incidents like what just happened are going on in Europe and all parts of the world. Recently on the news, a guy in China ran into a schoolroom and stabbed 27 kids. If someone is so seriously having problems and wants to kill, he can’t be stopped by getting rid of guns. Strap on a bomb, race your car through a group of people, or whatever.
I believe the biggest problem in this country is the “cesspool of this nation, Hollywood.” I can’t believe the violent, sexual, vulgar movies and TV shows our kids are subjected to. And probably worse, the absolutely violent videos they watch for hours. I believe this can affect some people. And as far as the number of murders every day in this country, I believe 80 percent are in Detroit and Chicago. Cities that have much larger problems than guns. I recommend that everyone who has a gun for protection in your home or for hunting and target shooting, join the NRA.
BOB MORTON, Cascade
Guns also protect people
There are many instances where people have saved themselves — and others — by using a gun. Why doesn’t the media also make us aware of these stories? An “assault rifle” fires every time the trigger is pulled (and is painted black sometimes). Wow — golly! So, what is the next step? Ban all handguns? They also fire every time the trigger is pulled.
BOB ALSETH, Cascade
Stories don’t exist
The subject of gun control is here again after yet another horrific attack on innocent people by a gun-toting maniac. The argument for leaving the status quo always seems to be that we need these weapons to protect ourselves, or for the few who actually hunt to survive. I must be missing all those stories about lives saved when someone (other than law enforcement) pulled a gun in a shopping mall, or in a theater, or in a school, or a home. Where are all the stories to prove that guns in the hands of citizens save lives? Could it be that there aren’t many? Any?
I’m just sayin’ ...
SUE FILLMAN, Meridian
Enforce laws we have
The events in Sandy Hook were horrific and incomprehensible. The families need our prayers.
What is troubling, however, is the glee with which the anti-gun media and activists have pounced on this tragedy to further their agendas. There are hundreds of existing federal and state gun laws now; more are unnecessary. What is needed is aggressive enforcement of these laws by responsible agencies. The last incidents were by deranged individuals who stole legally owned guns. New laws won’t help that.
The media claim that 54 percent of Americans support more gun control. I suspect that a large number of those individuals will be buying their kids video games such as “Call of Duty,” “Hit Man” and others that glorify killing and maiming their virtual opponents. Such games serve to desensitize young minds to the realities of such actions, since the more you kill, the better your score. Instead of pushing gun control, parents should get their kids’ noses out of video games, iPads and smartphones, and into the fresh air. I think that would help reduce violence and our youth would be better both physically and mentally.
SHERL CHAPMAN, Cascade
Clean up entertainment
Stopping the sale of assault weapons will be a start, but hardly enough to stop the killing craziness. The real problem, I believe, is that the entertainment industry promotes too much killing. We are bombarded with it in movies (even in previews we have no interest in), on television and dozens of video games. Unfortunately, it sells, big time. The craziness will not end until the entertainment industry backs off of promoting it as fun, fun, fun. Monkey see, monkey do, especially if the monkey is mentally unstable.
DON ADAIR, Boise
We live in a killing society
There is no more logic in outlawing the gun and clips used in the tragedy in Connecticut than it would to outlaw U-Haul trucks and the fertilizer used in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City.
We live in a “killing” society. Who would Steven Segal, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, Will Smith ... all of our idols, who would any of them be if they were not killing massive numbers of people? Kill good people ... kill bad people ... killing is killing.
What is the highest-rated video game, and who holds the title for killing the most on that game? Grandma plays solitaire. Everyone else is killing people. All of the reactions I’ve heard to the tragedy so far shed no light on a solution.
PAUL GUSTAFSON, Boise
We need to work together
In response to Barbara L. Carter’s Dec. 19 letter to the editor ... I, too, do not believe gun control will solve the problem. However, to target the mentally ill is not the solution.
I believe violent video games are also a factor. They desensitize those who play; violence, murder and mayhem are a big part of playing these so-called games.
When I went to high school, almost everyone had a gun rack and gun in their pickup and would hunt before and after school. I don’t recall any mass shootings.
There are many factors and we as a country need to work together to stop this.
SANDY JARDINE, Meridian
Zones invite violence
The problem with gun bans is they only play to the interests of the criminal.
How is it better that a law-abiding citizen is forced to cower and hide in hopes that the mad man hunting them won’t find him/her because they are in a “gun free zone,” superior to allowing that person a chance to fight back having a concealed weapons permit?
The biggest tragedies happen in these “defense free zones.” When the criminal is confronted by police or an armed citizen, the fight ends.
Why is that never covered by the media? Firearms are not the problem; they allow the weak and innocent to defend themselves. I feel the right to defend oneself is a basic human right, not a government “privilege.”
I will bet every one of those poor teachers at that school prayed for a weapon that horrible day. I am a retired correctional officer. Every inmate I ever discussed this issue with supported gun bans. It makes their job easier, period.
WILLIAM WEBSTER, Emmett
Guns not the only issue; focus on other areas
Having complete gun control will not stop the killings by evil people. The bad guys will always have the guns no matter the level of laws, legislation as has happened in Norway recently that is known for strict anti-gun legislation/laws. In 2011, 77 people, including a summer camp of children, were mass murdered and hundreds were injured by Anders Behring Breivik. Evil people do evil things.
The discussion today should not be about guns but should be about: 1) violent video games; 2) violent Hollywood movies; 3) violent television movies; 4) violent city shootings; 5) paranoid-delusional and manic-depressive families; 6) government intervention of man-made laws; 7) a devise president that encourages and supports violence and warfare. Guns do not cause this evil. A sick society owns this.
GALEN KIDD, Boise
Alcohol, cars cause more deaths than guns
Like most people, I am disturbed by the actions of a crazed mind in Connecticut. I am also disturbed at some of the comments of some of the readers and presenters. Americans are such hypocrites. We get up in arms when something like the tragedy in Connecticut, but children are being killed every day in other countries and we just pass over it and say “ain’t it awful.”
We hear all this nonsense about gun control when something like this happens, but I don’t hear anyone complain that we should take the cars off the road because some drunk driver wiped out a whole family or killed some children.
I don’t hear a murmur about controlling the use of alcohol. More Americans are killed by alcohol or alcohol-related incidents than guns. How many of the readers will have a few drinks at parties and think nothing of getting in their automobiles and driving intoxicated?
Freedom cuts both ways. Once freedom is curtailed, what freedoms are next to be lost. The freedom of speech was taken away from a football player ... because he had the audacity to twitter something about Obama and the football game.
JERRY BUCKINGHAM, Kuna
