Editor’s note: In the Jan. 11-24 issue of Reporter Newspapers, Associate Editor Dan Whisenhunt offered his opinion on the debate over guns. In subsequent issues, readers have reacted to his thoughts and to the ideas expressed by other readers.
To the editor:
I have read with interest the numerous pro and con gun control letters to the editor. The real question is not whether we reject our Second Amendment, confiscate this or that gun, or chip away more of our freedoms. The question is how do we keep our schools, public places and homes safe from the crazies (these murderers are not law-abiding, citizen gun owners) who would shoot up such places with weapons they will obtain no matter what the guns laws are?
The answer is we put something or someone in place to deter such individuals. It could be guards, metal detectors, permanent lock down, armed participants or one of the many ideas we Americans will create to reach that goal.
The answer is to deter the crazed individuals before they can even enter the area or reach the victims. The answer is unless the protectors are on an equal footing to the shooter, i.e., they possess a weapon or the strength to deter, the shooter will prevail.
Just look at the protections for public officials, celebrities and any high-profile individuals. They employ armed guards 24-7. Rarely do we hear of any of those people shot, killed or injured.
Doesn’t that tell us something? Equal methods of protection are the way to deter any mass murderer or even a home invader.
Carol Adams