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Gun control arguments flawed

To the editor,

Lora Machel painted a rather disturbing picture of guns in her column on Aug. 27, 1999. However, she presents just one side of the story. She stated that there were over 38,000 firearms-related deaths in 1994. However, there were approximately 200 million legally owned firearms in the United States at the time. For every gun involved in a death, there were over 4,000 that weren't.

The NRA spends 1.8 million dollars in congressional campaign contributions. The NRA has a little over 1 million members. The NRA spends less than $2 per member in campaign contributions.

The truth about guns is that nearly 100% of all legally-owned guns will not be used in a crime. Nearly 100% of all legally-owned guns will not be involved in an accidental shooting of any person. In fact, less than one-half of 1 percent of all legally-owned guns will be used in a crime. Ditto for accidental shootings.

Ms. Machel does not like guns. I have no problem with that. That is her right, and I fully respect it. I would also hope that she never owns a gun, simply because a person who is uncomfortable around a gun isn't likely to be very skilled with one.

It is unfortunate that violent criminals and their violent behavior have managed to help divert the blame from themselves to the tools of their deeds. We often hear that another nut has illegally obtained a gun and used it to kill someone. What we don't hear would take up every second of the nightly news. In the course of a year, law-abiding citizens use guns to protect themselves and others from criminals 2.5 million times-over 6,800 times every day-and rarely is the trigger ever pulled.

I support the rights of law-abiding citizens to own firearms if they choose to do so. I also support the efforts made to disarm criminals. However, I don't want to see criminals disarmed at the expense of those who know and understand the purpose and power of a gun: those who have been taught, be it formally or informally, that safety comes before everything; those who understand that you don't point a gun at someone unless he presents a serious threat.

So, Ms. Machel, I somewhat agree with you-guns, in the wrong hands, are dangerous. But in the hands of decent people who do not misuse them, they are quite capable of saving lives. Let's not overlook that aspect, okay? Although guns are involved in over 100 deaths per day, they are also used by law-abiding citizens to thwart crime nearly 7,000 times per day. Rather than focusing entirely on those who have no business owning a gun in the first place, let's give some credit to those legally-armed citizens who stood up to their attackers and saved a few lives in the process.

Todd Holloway

Bowling Green, KY