GUNS: Are they the real solution?

After reading the letter from Michael Alexander, I would like to respond to his contention that guns are the answer. It would depend on the situation. Certainly if law enforcement personnel were in the area, they are trained to use their weapons in a responsible manner so we can assume their guns might be the answer.

But consider this confusing scenario:

Assume we are in a crowded area and suddenly we hear gunshots. There are four armed citizens in the crowd plus the shooter. The four gun-toting citizens brandish their weapons with the goal of shooting the shooter. Unfortunately, none of the four gun-toting citizens has identified the real shooter and in all likelihood is simply looking for someone with a gun as his/her target.

So gun-toter 1 spots gun-toter 4 across the area as gun-toter 4 is brandishing his/her weapon. Unfortunately, at the same time, gun-toter 2 spots gun-toter 1 pointing his/her weapon toward gun-toter 4 who by this time has identified gun-toter 3, who by now is drawing a bead on gun-toter 2. Unfortunately, the real bad guy with the gun is not in their loop!

Now if any of the four good Samaritans fires at his/her target, perhaps the others will respond as well with the high possibility of the good guys/gals being hit plus the horrendous damage done to the folks in the area as the OK Corral is re-enacted. And god forbid any of the “good guys/gals” is carrying an automatic weapon with a large magazine!

Guns in the proper hands are sometimes the solution, but not just guns in anyone’s hands. And certainly not everyone should have access to guns.

Maybe we should consider that “Reasonable guns might be part of the solution in certain situations!” I classify “Reasonable” guns as hunting rifles, shotguns, perhaps a handgun with limited shell capacity. But not the assault type weapons.

DAVID B. LARSEN

Coeur d’Alene