GUNS: Don't shoot messenger

The blizzard of erroneous or meaningless info on guns continues. On April 13 Mr. Green tries to impress us with his experience as a counselor and with his mathematical ability to take a previously presented statistic and magically transform it into 102 million "Bad Guys." Having some acquaintance with the Mathematical Theory of Probability and Statistics I would suggest that Mr. Green take a refresher course on that subject. Not everyone who draws a gun or refrains from so doing is doing it for the first and only time. The 102 million figure is a bit overblown. Beyond these two items I must confess that Mr. Green's point - if there is one other than that he is anti-gun -escapes me.

On April 15 Jim Gleason gives us his take on the subject. He presents us with three imagined scenarios he has concocted to make his point. They reminded me of the small child who calls out in the night "Mommy! Daddy! There's a monster under my bed." Imagination can be a wonderful thing but, come morning, it is usually best to refrain from telling the neighbors about the monster.

As for the gun/automobile comparison I would remind Mr. Gleason that automobiles are not mentioned in the constitution. Guns (i.e. "arms") are. More to the point they are mentioned as a right specifically identified not as a privilege. Are freedom of speech, the press, assembly etc. etc. privileges? I think not.

If you would like to present real-life scenarios rather than made-up ones you can find many in NRA publications. I'm sure there are other sources in case you're biased.

PHIL MEMBURY

Coeur d'Alene