More guns lead to more shootings, not safety
It is difficult to know where to begin to repudiate Dick Fornear’s May 30 letter, “Learn About the NRA Before Forming Opinions.” He claims to list the many functions of the National Rifle Association without mentioning the elephant in the room — that its main objective seems to be to create a political climate favorable to selling as many guns as possible.
Maybe because it received over $38 million of support from the gun manufacturers between 2005 and 2012 alone, including Bushmaster, which made the assault gun used to murder 20 children in 2012 (Violence Policy Center). Every time there is a massacre, the NRA’s prescription is more guns. Guns for all. More germs to cure the disease.
Its efforts have made us by far the murder capital of the civilized world. The Eddie Eagle program Mr. Fornear extols is less about safety training for children than it is about early introduction to guns to perpetuate the market for firearms. If there were no guns in the house, children wouldn’t need to be taught to stay away from them.
Mr. Fornear brings up the activities of the NRA during World War II, which is like comparing Trump to Eisenhower. Times have changed.
Mr. Fornear feels that those who disagree with him are misinformed, but it is not misinformation that in this country 33,000 people each year are killed by guns. If there were no guns, there would be no shootings. Simple math. The NRA would have us advancing on a continuum toward guns for all, in which case there would be even more shootings.
What is this love affair so many of us have with guns? Where do the rights of gun owners stop and the rights of others to be free of violence start? Why can a minority force their will on the rest of us? Only in America. AL DUERIG Greensburg insulting and snobbish, first to members of the Loyal Order of the Moose, and second to the Glenfield Borough Council, which has recently brought about significant needed improvements for the borough, including a new recycling program and an upgrading of all the borough’s operating systems. Our governance is now both nimble and productive.
Election to office is not a sport or hobby, and those of us who remain responsible for and committed to helping to improve conditions for Glenfield citizens await Mr. Cherock’s formal resignation so that we can get on with the work of our community. DAVID ORBISON
President Glenfield Borough Council
Glenfield
On the very opposite page and facing the attacks on letter writer James F. Cataldi by Jeff Goldammer and Jack Bova (“Letter About Whining Missed the Inherent Irony” and “A Letter Whining About Whining?” May 31 letters, respectively) for defining the younger generation as underperformers is the essay “On Self-Reliance” by the esteemed columnist George F. Will.
Mr. Will cited adolescents spending “scores of hours” on electronic devices, 45 hours on video games per week, with eyes down and standing still and being “overnurtured” with childhood obesity 500 percent higher than 1967. It seems Mr. Cataldi has well-informed support against those complainers. JOHN LENKEY III
Collier
We welcome your opinion
Thank you for the positive story “Neighbors Reconnect” (May 28) regarding the FOCUS Pittsburgh nonprofit. How the world could be a better place if all had access to food, opportunity, clothing, understanding and shelter.
What an amazing story of the power of community, unity and investment of neighbors in one another. Yet another example of how burdens can be lessened by care and unity.
Kudos to the residents of Webster Avenue for believing in one another. JAIME HALASZYNSKI
Adams