Guns do kill

Editor,

I graduated from high school and turned 18 in 1943. Both events were milestones in my life.

Upon graduation, I got a job as a newspaper reporter on the Merced Express and held that job until I received a letter from my “friends and neighbors,” aka the Draft Board inviting me to become a soldier.
The Army taught me many important lessons. One stays with me to this day. As our platoon sergeant explained to us very emphatically: the design purpose of a gun is to kill.

The National Rifle Association conveniently overlooks that purpose. If one reads major statements by the NRA, they talk about being armed to defend your family and home. If this is so, we should read stories and see TV reports of stalwart gun owners doing just that.

I believe the media should put the NRA to the test. The media is quick to print or air stories of gun violence. Witness the coverage of the Las Vegas shootout this morning.

An ideal source of an honest count of gun violence and gun use to prevent crimes of violence and robbery would be CNN.

Incidentally, despite all the NRA statements, I’m willing to bet guns are far more often used for criminal acts of violence than in acts to prevent such behavior.

Robert V. Latour
Porterville