George:

We have always had a certain amount of violence to and by children, especially in certain societies. But there was not such easy access to guns. This hoopla about guns for 'protection' means a lot of loaded handguns hanging around. Otherwise, how can they be handy for 'protection'? The NRA claims there used to be as many guns about as now. Not so. I am old enough to remember. The guns that people did have were rifles and shotguns, not easily concealed handguns. Handguns are promoted by the NRA. Violence with knives require physical contact. Guns don't. No weapon is equal to a gun. Why is there not more uproar about the prevalence of handguns? It's all about some defect in the children. Hooey!! Who doesn't remember school yard fist-fights? Hate and rejection is not a newfound problem. But guns were not used to alleviate it. Certainly, methods must be found to help these disturbed children, and the entertainment industry should be appraised. But most of all we should look at the easy availability of handguns.

Martha Wright (electronic mail, March 28, 2001).