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AR-15: A drug for shooters

| June 22, 2018 1:00 AM

Reading Steve Cameron’s article, “Columnist pulls trigger on hot debate” in Wednesday’s, June 13 Press, I shivered remembering many conversations with my drug addict brother.

From Steve’s article: “So, there’s the debate in a nutshell: Sport shooters fire the AR-15 for sheer enjoyment, while detractors insist that the ability to unload rounds as fast as you can pull the trigger is an invitation for slaughter.”

Similar to the excuses people give for using opioids, cocaine and other drugs. Sheer pleasure. Feels good, exciting. Others maintain everyone who experiments with drugs, including marijuana (which we are learning can be a healer of many ills), is a dangerous addict.

Difference is that the thrill of shooting an AR-15 is an external high that has the possibility of harming others. Opioids, cocaine and other drugs are internal and damage only the user.

Not supporting either. However, we are seeing corporate greed at the base of both forms of “entertainment.” The NRA and gun manufacturers buy support from Congress. Drug manufacturers and private prison corporations also buy support from Congress.

One is as ugly as the other and not likely we are going to see any solution to either issue until we have laws preventing the purchase of votes in Congress.

SHIRLEY THAGARD

Hayden