Editor:
I would like to comment on the recent story, “Packing Heat,” (Journal, Dec. 17) . I thought it was a well-written, informative story. I did not think that the Journal was making trivial the recent school shooting in Colorado. In fact, I thought just the opposite. I am thankful that there are people that choose to take on the responsibility of defending themselves and the people around them when the need arises.
I don’t understand the reason to demonize a gun. A gun is only a tool and the operator of that tool decides how that tool will be used. Take a car for instance, when you want to learn to drive a car you first have to learn how to drive the car safely by going to driver’s education and by practicing with an experienced driver. There are millions of cars on the road and yet a very, very small percentage of people would drive their car into a crowded market wanting to inflict harm on as many people as possible. Carrying a gun is no different.
You have to go to class and learn how to safely carry your weapon and then you have to practice, practice, practice, so if the time comes and you need to use that gun, you will be ready. There are literally millions of guns in this country that are owned and handled by good, law-abiding citizens who do no harm to innocent people.
I personally think gun safety should be taught in every school and in every household whether there is a gun in the house or not. And I think every school should have an armed guard or an armed teacher to help prevent these senseless acts of violence.
Sandy Lard, Dolores
